Distributed Geolibraries Spatial Information Resources, Summary of a Workshop (1999) / Chapter Skim
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3 The Distributed Geolibrary in Societal and Institutional Context
3 The Distributed Geolibrary in Societal and Institutional Context
Pages 35-52
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From page 35... ...
This chapter addresses many of these issues from the perspective of geoinformation at the local level, how distributed geolibraries might build off the library mode} (and how traditional libraries have addressed or handled some of these societal and institutional issues) , and some of the additional issues introduced by the digital context of distributed geolibraries.
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From page 36... ...
New developments in technology make it possible for local people to gather local data germane to their own needs more readily, extract data from online and other electronic repositories, develop the intonation products they need, use the products for decision making, and contribute their locally gathered geoinformation and derived products to libraries or other repositories. Developing the technical and institutional means incorporation of local knowledge into networked presents a novel challenge.
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From page 37... ...
Indeed, distributed geolibraries and digital libraries in general will complement the traditional activities of libraries and related institutions. Libraries respond to many complex societal needs.
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From page 38... ...
A useful distributed geolibrary of the future will need to participate in these activities as an entity that will accumulate, make available, and conserve electronic carriers of georeferenced knowledge. Economic Considerations Existing public libraries do not buy most books or subscribe to most magazines or journals, yet they are highly valued by the estimated two-thirds of American adults who use them (Crawford and Gorman, 1995, p.
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From page 39... ...
These are some of the institutional questions that will need to be addressed as the technological capabilities for distributed geolibraries are built over time. Distributed Geolibraries and the Existing Library Institution Might distributed geolibraries develop as part of existing library arrangements or complement them?
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From page 40... ...
In one sense, all a distributed geolibrary need consist of is a good gazetteer in which users can look up information based on location. The "look up" might be accomplished by drawing a box around an area on a computer screen or by indicating a name
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From page 41... ...
If it is legal to copy the databases located through the electronic gazetteer (e.g., public domain geographic databases) or to "check them out" from the holdings within the distributed geolibrary (e.g., the conditions of lending might be determined by licensing agreements)
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From page 42... ...
"Works of knowledge" are largely synonymous with "intellectual works" and are thus the primary expressions protected by our intellectual property laws. Intellectual Property Concerns The goal of copyright law, and the effect of copyright law in library settings, has been to strike a balance between giving authors sufficient incentive to make their works available on the one hand and supporting the rights of users to use the intellectual works of others for socially constructive purposes on the other.
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From page 43... ...
c^nases~as~nte lectua.propedy. Uses of Data, Information, and Knowledge Suppose a student wishes to know more about Yosemite National Park and has access Trough a distributed geolibrary to two different types of information: a digital elevation model (DEM)
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From page 44... ...
Moreover, the work of the scientist may result in the production of new data, to be fed back into the distributed geolibrary for use by others (such as estimates of solar radiation based on topography combined with a suitable numerical model) or the production of knowledge works in the form of journal articles, which might also be added to the distributed geolibrary.
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From page 45... ...
Although the NSD} is concerned primarily with the production and dissemination of raw geospatial data, distributed geolibraries could also provide an effective mechanism for the dissemination of knowledge. ACCESS The concept of access in an institutional distributed geolibrary environment has two major aspects.
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From page 46... ...
An unanswered issue that will be continually debated in the distributed geolibrary vision is that of access to geoinformation in the public domain and traditional library services versus access to geoinformation and services that are only available on a commercial basis. Embedded in this issue are additional issues of public and private rights and intellectual property.
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From page 47... ...
Prototype models will need to be developed and tested. It is highly likely that the most appropriate incentive models for private-sector firms will vary from the incentive models that might best encourage local, state, and federal agencies to make their databases available through distributed geolibrary environments.
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From page 48... ...
10. How will the distributed geolibrary provide instruction and assistance in the use of digital geographic products and databases?
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From page 49... ...
~ In December 1996, WTPO member delegates Dom 160 countries met to consider proposed changes to copyright law with a particular focus on Me digital environment. Three drabs treaties sought to update copyright law concerning works delivered in digital fonm, to enact protections for performers in and producers of sound recordings, and to enact a new intellectual proper regime to protect databases.
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From page 50... ...
On October 28, 1998, President Clinton signed into law the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998. WIPO's decision to defer action on a draft database treaty did not deter members of the House of Representatives from considering additional intellectual property protections for databases.
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From page 51... ...
, the Presidents of the National Academy of Sciences, He National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine expressed "deep concerns about the proposed changes to intellectual property law" and noted that the legislation "would grant owners of information unprecedented rights in the control of digital information while severely restricting the rights of scientists and engineers-and everyone else-to access and use that information.', Moreover, the anticompetitive nature of H.R. 2652 "may have other negative economic impacts on our information economy by raising prices for data consumers, by stifling important activities of commercial users who add value to existing data, and encouraging the unproductive independent recompilation ofthe same or similar data." Other significant concerns were noted by the U.S.
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From page 52... ...
A common theme t~Md He copyright and intellectual proper debates in He United States has been the importance of focusing : on appropriate public policy choices for He United States, even shout this may conflict win the need for harmonization win offer counties' intellectual~and~copyright laws.~According to~this argument, He pressure p otection~ for databases.~Given Hattie United States is He leader in the information indus~y,~there is an appreciation Hat legislating in this arena could have significant economic consequences if not done correctly.
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