Design and Development of Prototype Astronomical Digital Image Library using Greenstone Digital Library Software

Abstract

This paper provides a mechanism for the development of a digital library—Greenstone Astronomical Digital Image Library (GADIL)—for astronomical images using open source software Greenstone digital library, and its use for astronomy community and educational users in India. The system is based on open source software like GSDL, Apache, PERL, GRE and Imagemagik, and can serve as an ideal access tool of research-ready scientific images so as to enhance astronomers’ productivity and increase public awareness of astronomy as a subject.