Our digital library system is based on an innovative Knowledge GRID approach that will allow this community to make their content and knowledge more abundant through adoption of our unique data model that implements a data, information, knowledge and wisdom hierarchy leading to a better understanding in the context of a specific cultural heritage problem, that of implementing the metal detector clubs code of practice concerning artefact discovery with the requirements of their local authorities, e.g. a portable antiquities service or local museum. The first part of this hierarchy concerns the implementation of a set of Digital Library Content Creation Services that allows the community to create efficiently and cost effectively digital content based on their cultural heritage.

Scenario: A member of the local metal detector club (let’s call him ‘Digger Jones’ or just Digger for short) discovers a portable antiquity in a recently ploughed field. Because he understands and abides by his metal detector clubs code of practice, he immediately starts to record important data on the spot, i.e. he records a national grid reference or the GPS location, and takes video and images using his digital camera, he also takes down contextual notes for later entering into one of his local museum’s Digital Library Content Creation Services—in this case the recording service—which automatically informs the local archaeologist or portable antiquities service.

Having been trained through his metal detector club and the local museum, he can access this service from his home computer using broadband or even a wireless PDA. However, this newly acquired digital content must be given meaning in some way by aggregating or relationally connecting the newly created digital content, which otherwise would be useless; having no significance other than that of existing—that is, we need to create information from this raw data. Thus, the second part of this hierarchy concerns the implementation of Digital Library Archival Services (Objective 3) that allows the community to archive, preserve and manage their digital content in a relational and discovery oriented way their digital content.