The Digital Commonwealth

Statewide Digital Library: NMRLS Joining the Digital Commonwealth By Gregory Pronevitz

The NMRLS Executive Board approved NMRLS joining the statewide digital library as a group sponsoring member. The Digital Commonwealth was formed to promote the creation of digital resources by libraries and other cultural organizations in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and to provide public access to these resources. The Digital Commonwealth www.digitalcommonwealth.org will provide web access to a search engine that will simultaneously search multiple digital libraries in Massachusetts. A prototype search of four cultural institutions (including NMRLS) is available on the site now.

NMRLS started its digital library efforts in 2001 to help members become familiar with digital library technology. We began with a small project that involved ten libraries, "ECHOES: Essex County Heritage Online Exhibits." This effort was supported by a grant from the Essex National Heritage Commission (see: www.nmrls.org/enha/exhibit/index.shtml).

NMRLS created the Northeast Massachusetts Digital Library www.nmrls.nmdl to expand access to digital library assets with continued grant funding from the Essex National Heritage Commission and LSTA funding from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners. This site provides access to about 4,000 digital objects from nine libraries. These items are searchable through the Digital Commonwealth prototype.

We look forward with the goal of including more members in our digital library efforts to enhance access to library materials online through our group sponsoring membership in the Digital Commonwealth.