End-user desk top workstations

      The standard end-user workstation or PC is the desktop device upon which the end-user or patron depends on to access, display, and download the collections and services of the digital library. The typical PC includes a processor, RAM memory, a floppy or Zip drive, CD-ROM or DVD drive, hard drive, keyboard and mouse, video card and monitor for display, sound card and speakers or head set for audio and a network card. The hardware is managed by the operating system (such as Windows 9x/NT, Linux, or Mac OS). At a minimum, the client or application software programs that are required include: a communication or network suite to facilitate the network connection to the digital collections, a web browser with plug-ins or helper applications to support the display and downloading of documents (i.e. Adobe Acrobat Reader) and the playing of video or audio files. Processor speed, the amount of RAM and the capacity of the network card will determine the level of success that the end-user experiences attempting to use a digital library.