Agreement between Max Planck Digital Library and the National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), Tsukuba, Japan

2008.04.18


National Institute for Materials Science

The National Institute for Materials Science and the Japan Science and Technology Agency developed a multi-color electrochromic display device using an organic/metal hybrid polymer which exhibits electrochromic properties.

Abstract

In March 2008, the NIMS and MPDL signed an agreement of joint operation for NIMS Research Library System for accessing scientific information and knowledge. By cooperating with MPDL, NIMS confirms a leading role of MPDL in digital libraries and its technical competence in deploying digital library services.

"Fig. NIMS-MPDL Digital Library Plan" Image

Fig. NIMS-MPDL Digital Library Plan



Aims of the Joint Project

The Joint Project will develop a reusable infrastructure and user applications for scientific communication and publication to be used by NIMS and MPDL in the context of digital library systems. The goal is to provide open access to digital research information that national research laboratories do not have the possibility to disseminate widely.

Project Tasks

Tasks of the Joint Project involve the specification for the NIMS Research Library System and the customization of systems developed by MPDL according to the needs of the NIMS Research Library System. Additionally, a digital rights management system and a digital access management system will be developed for the convenient use by scientists and library users of both NIMS and MPDL. NIMS scientific documents will be collected in digital form and the publication of data will be managed to increase the transparency of its digital collections. MPDL will provide equipment, materials and services needed for the implementation of the Joint Program. The cooperation is initially planned for 3 years.

About NIMS

NIMS is Japan's sole Independent Administrative Institution (IAI) specializing in materials science. NIMS is charged with basic research and development of materials science, and to advance the level of expertise in the field.
The NIMS Scientific Information Office is a new central scientific service unit responsible for the strategic planning, development and operation of the digital infrastructures necessary for providing NIMS with scientific information, and for supporting web-based scholarly communication worldwide. Its central activities include supplying institutes with information, storing data, publishing research results and establishing web-based scientific collaboration, while taking into account the interests of those institutes and their divisions. NIMS aims to share the digital library system with other research institutes in Japan, to dedicate an open source repository to worldwide dissemination of Japanese scientific results.