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about njedl - collections
Collections:Ready access to accurate, reliable and timely data enhances the ability of citizens, scientists and decision-makers alike to participate in the shaping of New Jersey's environmental future. The New Jersey Environmental Digital Library provides digital access to environmental reports, data and multimedia emanating from state and local governments, non-government and non-profit organizations, research institutes and academic departments.Scope of the Collection: The NJEDL emphasizes, but is not restricted to, locating, describing, and disseminating the state's environmental "grey literature." The scope of the collection includes scientific and technical reports, natural resources and other environment-related inventories, educational and interpretive materials, newsletters, presentations, datasets, maps, photos, and multi-media. The Digital Library also contains a sample of descriptive records for undergraduate honors, masters and doctoral theses from the Rutgers University Libraries collections. Organizational Directory: In addition to the digital library materials, the NJEDL has compiled a comprehensive Organizational Directory of New Jersey environmental agencies, agencies, academic departments, research institutes, educational centers, and other organizations. The Directory can also be used to generate specialized mailing lists to contact and interact with the state’s environmental specialists. User-generated Collection: A major goal is to transition the NJEDL into a "user-generated" collection in which authors and data producers submit information and metadata (description of the information submitted) directly to the NJEDL through our web-based data-submission form. The current NJEDL prototype was developed by the librarians and staff in the Scholarly Communication Center. Working primarily with reports contributed to the project by NJ DEP, we have created hundreds of metadata records and linked them to digital documents. The ultimate usefulness and success of the project, however, requires that experts and users engage in the collection development activities of the project. With the participation of state agencies, NGOs and NPOs, and academic researchers, we expect the collection to quickly expand in number and in scope, enhancing its value as a research tool, and facilitating user participation in environmental decision making. Outreach and Communication: In line with the goal of creating a "user-generated" collection, the NJEDL also offers outreach and communication services to the New Jersey environmental community. If you would be interested in making arrangements with an NJEDL staff member for training on the details of entering data into the library, please contact us. When possible, we can arrange instruction in the basics about metadata (description about the records), scanning, file formats, and other relevant topics. |
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