Developing a digital library on ceramics

The objective of the present study is to discuss the need for developing a digital library on ceramics.

The rapid growth of digital libraries together with professional publications and the popular press have created a lot of hopes as well as myths about digital libraries. Research on digital libraries began about a decade ago and a number of digital libraries were created as a result. The article begins with giving an overview of digital libraries, and then discusses the need for a digital library on ceramics, highlighting the importance of ceramics on society.

The paper shows that a digital library on ceramics is needed to provide students, scientists, artist and industrial community with an open and interoperable platform to help facilitate research and education, to promote ceramic art, to promote global cooperation, to foster economic development – including rural development, and to help facilitate archaeological research.

It is a paradox that, under circumstances where economic activity takes place at an increasingly global level, individual countries must give increased attention to their performance at the national level so that they can find a favored position within the world community. Since there has been little or no discussion on a digital library on ceramics in the library literature, the study would help developed and developing countries to develop digital library on ceramics.