Parameters for Designing and Evaluating of Digital Libraries

Introduction: The digital library always has been a mysterious concept and terms like ‗electronic library‘, ‗virtual library‘, ‗library without walls‘, ‗hybrid library‘ and ‗digital library‘ have applied often together or in place of one another for conveying a library concept independent of place and time and with resources that are usable from far. Studies have shown that there does not exist universal standards and definitions for ‗digital library‘ that all people have been agreed on. Although Digital Library Federation (DLF) have a definition that is an accepted and frequently cited definition, the different definitions in this field indicate lack of agreement between specialists of this area. This research is undertaken because of the lack of perfect and distinct standards for evaluating digital libraries and because of the importance of evaluation of this type of libraries. In this research, the most important parameters for design and evaluation of digital libraries has been investigated and a relative criterion framework have been given. Methods: This study was a descriptive research. First with studying of texts and reviewing of resources about digital libraries and their design and evaluation were recognized a lot of elements in design digital libraries. In other part of research, researchers surveyed six successful digital libraries in the world. Then they analyzed all of the received information and elements and determined basic parameters in design of digital libraries. Results: findings of this research showed that designers should be observed 14 main parameters for designing digital libraries. These Parameters are: Full text recourses, Special Users, Permanent access, Format, Retrieval and search, Acquisition, Infrastructures and Equipments development, Expert staff, Organization, Cooperating capability with other libraries, Services, Printer resources, Standards and Standardization and Copyright observance.

Digital libraries, Parameters, Design