CHAPTER 3

EDUCATION USING DIGITAL LIBRARIES

Jerry M. Mendel

INTRODUCTION

Is there any one among us today who does not believe that education and learning are lifelong pursuits? As one of our hosts in Japan commented "They [education and learning] will be the huge market for digital libraries when distributed digital libraries and information work technologies are available to content creators." Distributed digital libraries also have the potential to revolutionize education and learning, so there is a healthy symbiotic relationship among education and learning and digital libraries, a relationship that is in its infancy.

Upon returning to the United States, after visiting Japan as a member of the WTEC panel, this author undertook a modest literature search to learn more about U.S. efforts in education using digital libraries. It was found that a lot is happening in the United States, whereas, based on the panel's trip to Japan, it seems that not as much is happening there. This chapter first reviews what is happening in education using digital libraries in the United States, after which the same is done for Japan. The chapter then draws some conclusions.