Development of a Digital Repository Prototype applied to Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lisbon

Abstract

University libraries have played a key role in scientific research as well as in the support of education-related activities. Their main goal is to provide their users with immediate access to relevant information through updated information sources. Science evolves rapidly and so the daily information needs on health matters are large and require rapid access to the sources. One of the problems that currently exist in university libraries is the access and processing of information in digital format. Digital objects are technologically diverse and there is not enough technical information regarding its proper handling. In this paper we present the tools and methodologies that should be used to provide, in an organized and validated way, the wide range of existing information in a digital format. This work was done in the context of a Master of Science thesis in Information Studies and Digital Libraries. The aim was to find practical solutions for the processing and offering of information in digital format in the context of pharmaceutical sciences. Finally, the paper presents reliable benchmarking of best practices to implement and evaluate a prototype applied to the Pharmaceutical Sciences, in order to satisfy the user’s needs.