A Step towards Developing a Digital Library

The concept of digital libraries has come and it will stay. There are many projects being undertaken in different parts of the world. Yet there are many intricacies in developing a digital library. Two ways of developing a digital library has been identified. They are converting traditional library into a digital library and direct development of digital library. But, there are no clear cut ways to plan for a digital library. Hence, in this paper an attempt has been made to provide guidelines for planning and development of a digital library. The other issues discussed in this paper are definition of digital library components of a digital library, ideal digital library, steps involved in planning a digital library and prototype for converting traditional library into a digital library.