Distributed library

A distributed library is a collection of materials available for borrowing by members of a group, yet not maintained or owned by a single entity. The library catalog is maintained on a database that is made accessible to users through the Internet. An early example of this style of library (if not the first of its type) is the Distributed Library Project of the San Francisco Bay Area.

This style of library is still in its infancy. While libraries are being established in several cities worldwide, the San Francisco Bay Area library still only has a few hundred members. Administrative software continues to be developed and distributed.

See also

BookCrossing

External links

• The SF Distributed Library Project
• A List of Distributed Libraries