About THL > Overviews > THL Tools Resources > THL Tools Overview
THL Tools Overview
Contributor(s): David Germano
Tools in a digital library involve integrated software systems, tools, and fonts in general to enable users to search and analyze collections, as well as reconfigure them into new interpretative arrangements or add their own data. For details on THL tools, see the THL Tools Status Report. Tools in the traditional library include interactive catalogs on computer work stations, microfilm readers, photocopiers and so forth to allow users to search and access its collections, as well as in limited ways also compile their own collections of information. The digital library goes far beyond the limited traditional tools of a library in its enabling of users to creatively interact with the digital collections and reference materials, as well as generate new user-defined collections for their own private purposes. The simplest level of functionality includes extraction of images and composing sequenced slide-shows on line, while more advanced features are, for example, the ability to make HTML pages drawing upon library resources, compile private dictionaries, create new videos from segments of existing videos and so forth.
The TOOLS section of THL thus is devoted to documenting our specific software solutions for end users and editors, but also to providing information about associated types of digital work. Together these tools aim to help other projects and individuals take advantage of technical work done by the Library, as well as provide a way to facilitate communication, exchange, interoperability, and project building among all scholars, students, and others interested in Tibet and the Himalayan regions. In particular, the Library is committed to developing digital tools to assist the teaching of Tibetan and Himalayan languages, literatures, environments, and cultures. The evolving multilingual capacity of the digital library system also offers the promise of a single integrated library that serves different communities with distinct language bases, as well as promote communication between them.
For details on THL software, see the THL Tools Status Report. To explore the THL Toolbox in general, just use the interactive table of contents on the right to expand and contract into the various areas of documentation.