Workshop Objectives
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Since its conception, the Digital Library field has been a very broad and heterogeneous research arena, attracting practitioners and researchers from a large number of disciplines. Despite the plethora of diversely motivated models, systems, and results that have been developed, no agreement exists yet on the foundations characterizing and governing Digital Libraries. Nowadays the community is well aware of the problems generated by such lack of a universally accepted unifying framework; it is urgent that the current situation is reversed so that progress in the field can be accelerated.
The recent release of the Reference Model for Digital Libraries by the DELOS Network of Excellence on Digital Libraries represents a first step towards establishing such a unified framework. In particular, the “DELOS Reference Model” identifies the basic concepts and relationships characterizing the area and allows for further additions, expansions, and specializations as the field evolves.
After JCDL’07 and ECDL’07, this third edition of the Workshop on “Foundations of Digital Libraries” intends to serve as a vehicle for consolidating and expanding the DELOS Reference Model as well for exploring other fundamental aspects of Digital Libraries through contributions brought by the participants in the workshop. Its ultimate goal is to stimulate a process that can lead to a comprehensive and universally accepted model, influencing future activities and development of Digital Library systems.
