Comprehensive Digitization and Discoverability Program: Home

Introducing CDDP

With funding for the Multi-volume Set (MVS) project suspended, the NCC formed the Comprehensive Digitization and Discoverability Program (CDDP) task force to determine whether the research materials required by Japan studies scholars are in fact shifting to the digital format and how best to leverage new possibilities. The goal of the task force remains the same as that of the multi-volume set project -- to ensure wide access to difficult-to-acquire, academically valuable materials.  The MVS project was created to level the playing field between wealthy universities with large Japanese collections and institutions with few or no resources. The rise of digitization has in many respects increased these disparities and made the need for collaboration over finding equitable solutions even more pressing. Meeting regularly, the CDDP task force is currently considering various options to rise to the current challenge and anticipate future shifts. 

The objectives of the CDDP are to:

• Bring to light hidden, academically useful Japan-related materials through digitization

• Enable more robust use of these items by Japan scholars worldwide

• Promote collaboration nationally and internationally

• Foster training in developing digitization projects

• Help to build an international infrastructure for digitized Japan-related materials

Two areas of focus

The task force is focusing primarily on two areas: digitization and discoverability. 

In the first, we are considering different options to help support the digitization of hidden collections, the bringing together of complementary online collections, and the creation of a better system for finding relevant digital collections. The task force is actively interviewing experts to determine best steps forward to ease the path toward digitization and eventually create an international infrastructure for Japanese digitized materials.

In the second, training initiatives are being planned to ensure that Japan scholars and librarians have the tools necessary to bring their collections to light in ways that provide users with the greatest possible depth of understanding. The aim here is to ensure that librarians and scholars can take full advantage of the digital format when providing access to digital collections.