Managing complexity in a distributed digital library

As the capabilities of distributed digital libraries increase, managing org anizational and software complexity becomes a key issue. How can collection s and indexes be updated without impacting queries currently in progress? H ow can the system handle several user-interface clients for the same collec tions? Computer science professors and lectors from the University of Waikato have developed a software structure that successfully manages this complexity i n the New Zealand Digital Library. This digital library has been a success in managing organizational and soft ware complexity. The researchers' primary goal has been to minimize the eff ort required to keep the system operational and yet continue to expand its offerings.