However, the Library is not a research organization and many of the computing methods for collecting and preserving web materials are still in a state of flux. In particular, specialized expertise is needed to manage very large collections by automatic means. The effort will hold at least one workshop at the Library that will bring together the leaders in this field to share expertise and build partnerships with the Library. The effort will act as advisor to the Library's staff in developing prototype collections of selected web sites. High priority should be given by the Library to beginning these prototype collections as soon as possible.
Prototypes serve several purposes.
The success of the National Digital Library Program would have not been possible without the experience of American Memory, which itself drew on expertise developed through earlier conversion projects. The Library needs guidelines that describe its policies for open-access web materials. This effort will work with the relevant experts at the Library to develop these guidelines. In rare cases, it may be necessary for the Library to be assertive in demanding important materials for its collections, but this is undesirable. One reason for an early emphasis on open-access materials is that their creators have deliberately made them available to the public, but even for these there are subtle legal and policy considerations.