January 29, 2001
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Sayeed Choudhury
sayeed@jhu.edu
(410) 516-4930
Oxford contact: John Tuck
jpt@ulib.ox.ac.uk

OXFORD AND JOHNS HOPKINS TEAM TO CREATE DIGITAL LIBRARY PROGRAMS

The Sheridan Libraries of the Johns Hopkins University and Oxford University Library Services in the United Kingdom have formed an alliance to develop digital library initiatives. Collaborative efforts will include activities ranging from staff visits and exchanges to joint digitization and publishing projects and combined development of instructional technology initiatives.

"We are delighted to have this exciting opportunity to collaborate with the Oxford libraries in advancing the development of digital library capabilities," said Jim Neal, dean of university libraries at Johns Hopkins. "The digital library programs at each institution will be significantly enhanced and will serve as a model for future global library collaborations."

The Johns Hopkins-Oxford University alliance grew out of a highly successful earlier collaborative effort associated with the Johns Hopkins Medieval Manuscripts Project. The first phase of this project digitized manuscripts of Le Roman de la Rose, a principal medieval text, from three libraries: the Bodleian Library at Oxford, the Pierpont Morgan Library in New York and the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore. Now in its second phase, the Medieval Manuscripts Project will create new possibilities for digital library scholarly research and services through the creation of digital surrogates.

"It is particularly pleasing to be partnering with Johns Hopkins in the arena of digital library developments," says Reg Carr, director of University Library Services at Oxford. "Both of our library systems have embarked on digital initiatives which have much to gain from closer inter-working, in terms of enhanced expertise and collaborative experience. We are confident that our joint efforts will bring mutual benefits to our common support for the scholarly enterprise."

At a planning meeting to be held in March at Oxford, members of the joint committee will agree on a tentative schedule of projects.

The Sheridan Libraries encompass the Milton S. Eisenhower Library and its collections at the Hutzler Reading Room, Garrett Library and the George Peabody Library.

The Oxford University Library Services comprise 27 centrally funded libraries of the University of Oxford, including the world- famous Bodleian Library and the major research libraries of the Ashmolean Museum and of the Taylor Institution.

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