DELOS research activities

Digital Libraries support the specialized needs of very diverse technologies and applications, from cultural heritage to general science, health, government, and education. The potential exists for Digital Libraries to become the universal knowledge repositories and communication conduits of the future, a common vehicle through which information in all forms can be accessed, discussed, and enhanced. To fulfill their new roles as universal knowledge infrastructures, Digital Libraries require research in several new key areas pointing to the development of:

• user-centred system design methodology
• pro-active systems with functionality that facilitates collaboration, communication, and information creation
• generic Digital Library Management Systems that provide basic system infrastructures that can be used to implement application specific digital libraries incorporating context-specific services.

The DELOS Network of Excellence in Digital Libraries intends to advance the field in these new and exciting directions, with the aim of progressing to the development of the next-generation Digital Library system. To this end, DELOS coordinates a joint programme of activities of the major European teams working in digital library related areas. The objective is to develop dynamic ubiquitous knowledge environments, which will transform research, and education at all levels by collecting, organizing and making publicly accessible on-line vast quantities of information. The ultimate goal is to provide access to human knowledge from anywhere and any time and in an efficient and user-friendly fashion. DELOS also aims at disseminating knowledge of digital library technologies to many diverse application domains, by providing access to technological know-how, services, test-beds, and the necessary expertise to facilitate their take-up.

The research activities of DELOS have been organized in seven clusters:

• Digital Library Architecture
    
• Information Access and Personalization
    
• Audio/Visual and Non-traditional Objects
    
• User Interfaces and Visualization
    
• Knowledge Extraction and Semantic Interoperability
    
• Preservation
    
• Evaluation