Realizing New Means: Networked Access to Research Collections

At Cornell University, Web-accessible research sources based on museum, library, archives, and laboratory holdings illustrate the potential for integrating various materials and employing differing approaches to access. These Web-based "collections" form a testbed for critical review of the goals, implementation, and results of such efforts. Particular attention will be given to concepts underlying the aggregation of digital "collections" and the collaborative, curatorial, staffing, and audience/use implications of such developments. In conclusion, the design of new projects will be examined, including Cornell's botanical garden and university museum.