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About the Digital Library (DL) TP Library, together with the Computer & Information Systems department, started work on an ambitious project early in 1998. The idea for a TP Digital Library (DL) grew out of a brainstorming session on integrating online services & resources, & harnessing new technology to provide more & better quality services for TP students & staff. After extensive requirement gathering & the documentation of specifications, the DL project was tendered in 2001. | How the name SPARK came about We called our DL portal Spark because the word means to initiate or trigger. Closely associated with ideas, creativity, innovation & inspiration, it also hints of latent possibilities. We embrace this definition because the Library is going to be the agent or trigger in knowledge creation, discovery & learning. Read more about the launch of the DL systems & the creator of the Spark logo. |  | ||
This project included a replacement for the ten year old Dynix Library System, a one-stop search facility for online resources, a digital media repository, & a digital library portal. Also included was an integrated online feedback management system & library bulletin administration. The DL was to become fully integrated with the campus Single-Sign-On authentication system, as well as fully web-based & Internet accessible, making the DL accessible Anywhere, Anytime. In November 2002, TP Library installed the ALEPH 500 Library System. This system provides the flexibility for the Library to customise the functionalities & features for frontline & back end operations. It also provides a user-friendly library catalogue - OPAC. The TP DL, Spark, was officially launched on 2 December 2002. With this portal, students & staff can access information & learning resources anywhere, anytime. A one-stop search facility for online databases & web resources, the Research Gateway, was also launched to facilitate the research needs of students & staff. This facility was made available through the installation of MetaLib & SFX, products which enable simultaneous searches across range of diverse resources , & provide context-sensitive links to resource-related services. In June 2004, the Digital Media Repository (DMR), the final installment of the DL, was implemented. The DMR is a searchable database of digital objects, providing a digital archive of works produced by the Polytechnic schools & departments. It is intended to facilitate knowledge sharing amongst TP staff & students. The DMR was phased out at the beginning of 2010 in an effort to consolidate the Library's collections and make searching easier. In March 2010, the digital objects and eExam Papers from the DMR were moved to the Library catalogue - OPAC. See how to search the: | | Access to the Digital Library (DL) As a member of the Temasek Polytechnic, you will be given login rights which will allow you to access various online Library services & resources from our DL Portal. If you are not issued with a login account & need to access the DL, please approach the staff at the Customer Service Counter on Level 2. External members of the Library will be given an account by the Library when their membership has been confirmed. With this account, you can renew your library material & make reservations remotely through the Library Catalogue (OPAC) & access the online databases & electronic resources through the Library pages & the Digital Media Repository. The login account comprises a User Name & password. --- Students - use your admission number & TP password (Forgotten? Go to the CyberCentre at the SDAD block) --- Staff – use your novell login ID & password. (Forgotten? Contact CIS Helpdesk.) --- External members – your initial user name & password is your IC number. (Need Help? Go to the Library Customer Service Counter on Level 2) | |
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And after the DL? Despite having launched our major DL systems and Portal in Dec 2002, we have been continuously improving | |