How is NSDL different from a mere repository or a specialized "Google^®"?

1.  Interoperability:  NSDL is not a library but a fundamental element in the transformation of educational infrastructure to the post bibliographic world. Interoperability will be the key to sustainability, and interoperability will be guaranteed by:

    a.  Shared metadata specified by Dublin Core Metadata Initiative

        http://dublincore.org

    b.  NSDL Metadata Resources Page:

        http://metamanagement.comm.nsdlib.org/IntroPage.html

    c.  Collection Building NSDL:  Form for submitting collection metadata:

        http://metamanagement.comm.nsdlib.org/collection_forum.html

    d.  NSDL XML schema:  currently in use by the NSDL Metadata Repository

        http://ns.nsdl.org/schemas/nsdl_dc/nsdl_dc_v1.00.xsd

    e. Open Archives Initiative:  OAI Metadata Harvesting Protocol is preferred method for metadata harvesting:  

        http://www.openarchives.org/

        http://www.dlib.vt.edu/projects/OAI/index.html

2.  Access Management facilitated by federation:

Shibboleth:  http://shibboleth.internet2.edu/

3.  Searching/Browsing through related information is enhanced.

Walden’s Path System:  pathways thru sequences of related material:  R. Faruta, et al::

http://www.csdl.tamu.edu/walden/

4.  Help:  AskNSDL user help by experts:      http://asknsdl.askvrd.org/index.asp?

5.  The entire collection will be archived to eliminate "404:  Missing Page" errors.