Once connected, you search through the entire collection using key concepts. When the search is completed, you have a custom-tailored, synthesized document that retains source attributions but contains only the relevant pieces of the entire collection. This scenario is still a dream, although we are closer to achieving it than ever before. A standard allows searching across many different sources while providing the capacity to reconstitute the results in a common format. A generalized standard can adapt to many different formats and unique situations.
Markup languages help authors and publishers organize their work by structuring the content.
The structure has a strong display component that helps the reader to understand the authors meaning. This standard should be internationally recognized to extend access to materials over time despite the rapid technological changes. Today, we are beginning to build an experimental digital core based on SGML here at the USDAs National Agricultural Library. A collaboration has been forged with the Bean Improvement Cooperative to digitize its complete series of annual reports and conference proceedings. This experiment will achieve its greatest success only with the full participation of NAL users.