The work of the CDLR is focused on distributed digital information and learning environments, encompassing everything from information architectures to policy. Specific themes addressed include:
- Includes: cataloguing, standards for description (e.g. RDA) and access (e.g. Z39.50).
Current projects and initiatives: Bubl, Cairns, SCONE
Completed projects: CCInterop, RCO, Recal
- Collaboration:
- Includes: collection development, people and organisation level issues.
Current projects and initiatives: SCONE, Scurl, Slainte, Widwisawn
Completed projects: Didet, Hairst, Speir1, Speir2, SPI, Cosmic, Oats - Collection description:
- Includes: associated metadata, aggregation and Conspectus.
Current projects and initiatives: SCONE
Completed projects: RCO, Seed, DiSCmap - Digital libraries:
- Includes: issues affecting digital libraries as a whole, such as policies, standards, users and technologies.
Current projects and initiatives: GDL, Scurl, Shaman
Completed projects: Hairst, Speir1
- Digital preservation:
- Includes: preservation tools for analysing, ingesting, managing, accessing and reusing information and data.
Current projects and initiatives: Shaman
- Digitisation:
- Includes: content creation, management and delivery, repurposing and reuse of resources.
Current projects and initiatives: DiSCmap, GDL
Completed projects: Aspect1999, Aspect2003, Maxton, Redclyde, Scotia, SMCJ, Springburn, VictorianTimes
- eBooks:
- Includes: ebook creation, description, management and indexing.
Current projects and initiatives: GDL
Completed projects: 100Men, Eboni, EbookIndexing, EbookMethodology
- eJournals:
- Includes: creation, management, cataloguing and user access.
Current projects and initiatives: E-LIS, Joli, SapiensService, UKRR, Widwisawn
Completed projects: SapiensProject, SMCJ
- eLearning:
- Includes: interactions with virtual and managed learning environments.
Completed projects: Didet, Eboni, Inspiral
- Information management:
- Includes: information policy, information environment landscaping, knowledge organisation systems and mechanisms.
Current projects and initiatives: GDL, Infokit, Shaman, UKRR
Completed projects: Dio, Mandate, Mopark, MWI, GoldDust - Interoperability:
- Includes: distributed systems architectures, subject description and re-using content.
Current projects and initiatives: Cairns, NHSEdscon
Completed projects: CCInterop, CMSMetadata, HILT3, HiltM2M, Inspiral, MuseumsICT, Speir1, Speir2, HILT4 - Libraries:
- Includes: librarians, users, information literacy, information policy and user interfaces.
Current projects and initiatives: Bubl, E-LIS, Scurl, ScurlSNG, Slainte
Completed projects: Speir2
- Metadata:
- Includes: metadata creation, use, aggregation, evaluation, standards and workflow.
Current projects and initiatives: Joli, UKRR
Completed projects: CMSMetadata, Mopark, MWI, Stargate, IRIScotland - Methodology:
- Includes: quality assurance and evaluation.
Current projects and initiatives: Infokit, Joli
Completed projects: EbookMethodology, Mandate, MWI
- Open access:
- Includes: advocacy, mechanisms, standards and toolkits.
Current projects and initiatives: E-LIS, Strathprints
Completed projects: IRISToolkit, Oaisis, Oats - Repositories:
- Includes: repository development, management, harvesting and integration.
Current projects and initiatives: Strathprints
Completed projects: Hairst, IRISToolkit, Stargate, IRIScotland, StargateScope - Resource discovery:
- Includes: search engines, subject portals, user interfaces and cataloguing internet resources.
Current projects and initiatives: Bubl, Cairns, Infokit, SCONE
Completed projects: SPI
- Terminologies:
- Includes: mapping, automation, collaborative tagging, standards and user issues.
Current projects and initiatives: Infokit
Completed projects: HILT1, HILT2, HILT3, HILT4, SCLD, GoldDust
A particular aim is to take a holistic approach to researching the distributed information environment. This means studying every facet, not in isolation, but in the context of the whole distributed environment (and vice versa), and considering interaction in both at every operational level, from the technical to the human (including user, staff, organisational). A practical implication is that projects are undertaken in an R&D environment rich in a range of inter-related projects and initiatives that study and inform each other and the development of the whole.