CONTENTdm offers total solution for digital content management

DUBLIN, Ohio, USA,  25 May 2005—The latest release of CONTENTdm, the leading digital collection management software in libraries and other cultural heritage institutions, offers innovative new features that improve and simplify every aspect of digital collection development, management and delivery.

CONTENTdm software offers a complete set of tools to store, manage and deliver digital collections—such as historical documents, photos, newspapers, audio and video—on the Web.  Newest features include:

• Fast multiple document entry.
• Increased security for items and collections to better protect copyrighted or other restricted   materials.
• Detailed reports that show how online items and collections are being used.
• Additional digital repository features.
• Linking to WorldCat for worldwide visibility of digital collections.

“Digitization of materials in libraries, historical societies and other archive agencies offers an exciting opportunity for these organizations to add value to their collections and provide access to their unique holdings,” said Greg Zick, President of DiMeMa Inc., creator of CONTENTdm software.

CONTENTdm is used by hundreds of libraries and other institutions to manage thousands of collections.  The new version, to be released in June, was developed in close consultation with CONTENTdm user groups and adds features to an already robust and easy-to-use software suite.

“CONTENTdm has provided the cornerstone for our digital collections since 2000,” said Kenning Arlitsch, Head of Digital Technologies, University of Utah, which has created remarkably rich digital collections with CONTENTdm software <http://www.lib.utah.edu/digital/index.html>.

“We have used CONTENTdm to create and manage nearly 4 million digital objects of nearly every format, including books, documents, photographs, art prints, maps, newspapers and video clips,” said Mr. Arlitsch.  “CONTENTdm has also provided the technical infrastructure for the Utah-Nevada partnership known as the Mountain West Digital Library, and for the multi-state Western Waters Digital Library.  I am constantly impressed by the innovation and continuing evolution of CONTENTdm, and look forward to the new features in the new version.”

In 2004, Rodman Public Library, in Alliance, Ohio, established the Alliance Memory digital collection <http://alliancememory.org> using CONTENTdm software.  The library partnered with a variety of historical, educational and service organizations to ensure the project’s success.  The project was selected as an Exemplary Program for the Library Services and Technology Act 2004 Program Report to the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

“It was easy to set up and get our project started using CONTENTdm software,” said Karen Perone, Systems Librarian, Rodman Public Library.  “The software was so easy to use, it allowed us to concentrate our efforts on the content of our project instead of the technology.”

“Our site has generated a lot of enthusiasm and interest from the community, in large part because Alliance is a city rich in historical information,” said Ms. Perone.  “The Alliance Memory site is fast becoming a great source of pride in our community.”

CONTENTdm is distributed by OCLC Online Computer Library Center, the world’s largest library cooperative.  Metadata for many of these digital collections is being added to WorldCat, the world’s largest database of items held in libraries.  Once in WorldCat, special collection items can be found by searching the database, or searching the Web.  Items in WorldCat can now be discovered through popular search engines like Google and Yahoo! Search as part of the OCLC Open WorldCat program.

“OCLC is encouraging more libraries and other organizations to contribute metadata to the database to make it a bigger, better WorldCat,” said Phyllis B. Spies, Vice President, OCLC Collection Services.  “CONTENTdm makes it possible for libraries to contribute valuable information about their unique collections to WorldCat.  These unique items add tremendous value to WorldCat, and to the worldwide research and library communities it serves.”

Join a CONTENTdm Web information session to learn more about the exciting new features and functionality now available with this leading digital collection management software.  To register, go to:  http://www.oclc.org/education/websessions/usa/

To see these and other digital collections managed with CONTENTdm software, visit:  http://www.contentdm.com/customers.

About OCLC
Headquartered in Dublin, Ohio, OCLC Online Computer Library Center is a nonprofit organization that has provided computer-based cataloging, reference, resource sharing and preservation services to 52,000 libraries in 95 countries and territories.  For more information, visit <www.oclc.org>.

About DiMeMa Inc.
DiMeMa Inc. (Digital Media Management) was formed in early 2001 to provide support for the rapidly growing community of CONTENTdm users.  DiMeMa’s corporate objective is to provide leading software tools for digital collection management.  Using the latest technology integrated with input from information professionals, DiMeMa continues to evolve these tools to provide easy-to-use, reliable, flexible and high performance applications specifically targeted for media management and archiving. For more information, visit <www.dimema.com>.

Find out more about OCLC

OCLC and WorldCat are trademarks/service marks of OCLC Online Computer Library Center, Inc. CONTENTdm is a registered trademark of DiMeMa, Inc. Third-party product, service and business names are trademarks and/or service marks of their respective owners.