Overview of content related to 'metadata'

Clumps As Catalogues

editor — Tue, 21 Dec 1999 00:00:00 +0000

Peter Stubley asks whether CLUMPS as catalogues are 'virtual success or failure?'

If the concept of parallel searching of catalogues via Z39.50 is stimulating, the initial manifestation is truly exciting. Maybe not exactly Alexander Graham Bell or Archimedes territory but life-enhancing nevertheless: to have been working on the implementation of an idea for over twelve months, as the UK eLib clumps projects have, and suddenly see bibliographic records returned simultaneously from a search across multiple library catalogues, makes it seem that all the arguments, stress and technical tinkerings have finally been worthwhile.

Clumping Towards a UK National Catalogue?

editor — Tue, 21 Dec 1999 00:00:00 +0000

Dennis Nicholson argues in favour of the distributed approach to cataloguing.

This article presents a clumps-oriented perspective on the idea of a UK national catalogue for HE, arguing that a distributed approach based on Z39.50 has a number of attractive features when compared with the alternative physical union catalogue model, but also noting that the many difficulties currently associated with the distributed approach must be resolved before it can itself be regarded as a practical proposition.

Digitizing Intellectual Property: The Oxford Scoping Study

editor — Tue, 21 Dec 1999 00:00:00 +0000

Stuart Lee discusses the Mellon Digitization Scoping Study for Oxford University.

In 1998 the University of Oxford initiated a nine-month study into its digitization activities: past, present, and future. The 'Scoping Study' as it has now become known, was funded by the Andrew W Mellon Foundation and completed its findings in July 1999. This paper briefly outlines the reasons behind the study, its methodology and how this might be applied to other institutions, the main results, and the planned next stages.

Scientific, Industrial, and Cultural Heritage: A Shared Approach

editor — Tue, 21 Dec 1999 00:00:00 +0000

Lorcan Dempsey presents a research framework for libraries, archives and museums prepared for the European Commission.

The Information Society Technologies programme within the EU's Framework Programme Five supports access to, and preservation of, digital cultural content. This document describes some common concerns of libraries, archival institutions and museums as they work together to address the issues the Programme raises. This accounts for three major emphases in the document. First, discussion is very much about what brings these organisations together, rather than about what separates them.

Planet SOSIG: Asking Questions - The CASS Social Survey Question Bank

editor — Tue, 21 Dec 1999 00:00:00 +0000

Adam Guy writes about the Question Bank service.

The purpose of this article is to introduce The Question Bank contents and situate the resource in the context of its Information Space, that is its relationship to other projects that aim to make social surveys more accessible.

Metadata for Digital Preservation: An Update

editor — Tue, 21 Dec 1999 00:00:00 +0000

Michael Day discusses 'Metadata for Digital Preservation'.

In May 1997, the present author produced a short article for this column entitled "Extending metadata for digital preservation" [1]. The article introduced the idea of using metadata-based methods as a means of helping to manage the process of preserving digital information objects. At the time the article was first published, the term 'metadata' was just beginning to be used by the library and information community (and others) to describe 'data about data' that could be used for resource discovery.

Web Focus: Using the Web to Promote Your Web Site

editor — Tue, 21 Dec 1999 00:00:00 +0000

Brian Kelly expalins how to promote your web site.

Many readers of this article will be involved in setting up new web sites, possibly for European or nationally-funded projects, for internal, institutional projects or perhaps for community projects. As the size of the web grows there is an increasing awareness of the need to be pro-active in promoting web sites - we can no longer simply sit back and expect visitors to arrive at our new site. This article describes a variety of approaches which can be taken to the promotion of a web site.