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Components of a ‘National Electronic Library’ for Scotland: 

Components of a ‘National Electronic Library’ for Scotland Dennis Nicholson Gordon Dunsire Centre for Digital Library Research

Overview: 

Overview Explanations, definitions, projects, acronyms... What an NEL is (and isn’t) Why its needed What it will do The assumptions that underpin it The components and their function

Overview: 

Overview Demonstration of the basic system Problems and Solutions Joining the current system Why a SCOTTISH focus? Not a Scottish DNER... Relevance to Digital Scotland The need for early action

Explanations, definitions…: 

Explanations, definitions… Early sketch of the idea of a NEL Don’t have all the answers: Case sound Building blocks in place in form of existing projects and initiatives: CAIRNS, SCONE, SLAINTE, SEED, HILT, COSMIC Widest possible discussion needed

Projects, Acronyms, Terms: 

Projects, Acronyms, Terms Terms: Clumps, Z39.50 Acronyms, projects in detail: CAIRNS SCONE and SEED SLAINTE HILT COSMIC

What is a NEL?: 

What is a NEL? Term not ideal because: Not wholly digital Digital AND non-digital materials Resource management, discovery mediated electronically. Ideally, museums, archives too (at some level) Popular, so stick with it for now S.N.R.M.D.D.S.?

Why do we need a NEL?: 

Why do we need a NEL? Competing in the information age requires rapid, reliable access to the best learning resources, research information, public information, cultural materials Implies managing collections, user and retrieval environments – not market forces and search engines Failure: chaos, waste. Success…

What would it do?: 

What would it do? Co-ordinate and plan co-operative activities aimed at managing Scotland’s education, research, public information and cultural resources in order to make them: Relevant to the needs of citizens, companies, organisations Readily accessible to all, regardless of educational level

More specifically...: 

More specifically... Ensure we have resources, skills, facilities, infrastructure to compete: By helping citizens and companies find data, materials efficiently In libraries, museums, archives, electronic services and all formats Provide pointers to wider world too Plan to ensure future needs met Accessible: all educational levels

Four Key Assumptions...: 

Four Key Assumptions... Users requirements don’t fit neatly into sectors or domains Can serve better, make resources go further by working together A need for adjustable user and task landscapes, interfaces Regional management with national co-ordination needed

Implications for a NEL[1]: 

Implications for a NEL[1] That users will need to cross-search geographically distributed catalogues, so that two components of a NEL are: A set of geographically distributed but cross-searchable local online catalogues A gateway for cross-searching these catalogues

Implications[2]: 

Implications[2] That users will need to identify which catalogues are appropriate to a particular need at a particular time (e.g. astrophysics, museums, HE, Glasgow groups), so: A collections description database A user interface for searching and browsing it

Implications[3]: 

Implications[3] That since most catalogues will be appropriate to many groups or queries, the best way of grouping catalogues together for searching is to do so dynamically on the basis of data input by the user, so: A ‘select collections’ or ‘dynamic clumping’ mechanism

Implications[4]: 

Implications[4] That in order to best serve their own users, institutions (and sectors and domains) will need to collaborate with each other to manage their collections, so that: A staff gateway to the collection descriptions database.

Implications[5]: 

Implications[5] Since regional management with national co-ordination needed, so: ALF, GDL, TAFLIN etc to co-ordinate regionally COSMIC to co-ordinate these nationally Plus other co-ordinating groups: e.g. SCURL and SHERAL in research libraries

Other Components: 

Not a complete list, other components of a NEL include: Metadata and other standards Inter-access agreements, Inter-library loans, User needs monitoring A task oriented interface? Scottish Parliament commitment Other Components

How it all works: 

How it all works Cross-searchable distributed catalogue and user gateway Scottish Collections database and user gateway Dynamic clumper linking the two Staff Collections Management Portal (being developed: SCONE) COSMIC and regional groups

Tomorrow’s World: 

Tomorrow’s World Every catalogue included, Z39.50 All resources, every user anywhere All collections fully described Every useful dynamic clump and user landscape or interface Better collection management tools Complex co-operation matrix across and beyond Scotland

The Story So Far...: 

The Story So Far... A few Z39.50 catalogues Resources and users mainly HE Only some collections described No user landscapes, interfaces Subject-based, regional sub-clump Staff CLD facilities limited Co-operation matrix limited

Demonstration: 

Demonstration But we do have a working system A basic, embryonic, version of the system – encompassing all of the components except the staff gateway- has been created and shown to be effective by CAIRNS and is developing under SCONE Demonstrating it should help clarify nature of components, functions

Problems and solutions: 

Problems and solutions Working system in place but still problems and issues before it has the full functionality needed for a NEL: A fully inter-operable catalogue with no cataloguing, indexing, Z39.50, terminology problems Effective dynamic clumping navigation All Scottish collections included Effective user, task specific landscapes (and so on…)

Cataloguing and indexing: 

Cataloguing and indexing Problems here include: Differing cataloguing and indexing practices; Missing indices and records; Different subject, class schemes; Different record formats Cataloguing Standards Group: Guidelines for new services to follow, existing services to aim for Long haul without additional funds

Collections, User navigation: 

Collections, User navigation Dynamic clumper mechanism works but good navigation needs good data and descriptions, Issues: Describing subject, named collections, sub-collections, distributed collections, collections that are services or service groups Measuring collection strengths Mapping subject schemes

Other issues: 

Other issues Models: integrating beyond Scotland Non-standard Z39.50 software Gateway software options No online catalogue, or web catalogue or Z39.50 catalogue User interface design issues Actual user requirements

Dealing with Problems...: 

Dealing with Problems... In short, still problems to solve: Some: can be dealt with on an ongoing basis, working with current and potential members to resolve – Z39.50, cataloguing, SCONE etc Others: require funds for research, development and support for a full operational service

Forward paths: 

Forward paths We are currently pursuing both paths: Encouraging libraries to join CAIRNS, issuing advice, working with suppliers, urging change during system upgrades etc. Pressing the case for a NEL and the funding needed to implement then develop an operational NEL

Joining CAIRNS: 1: 

Joining CAIRNS: 1 A simple matter of: Implementing catalogue software compliant with international Z39.50 interoperability standard and MARC Adhering to accepted rules for the creation of catalogue data (AACR2 the accepted standard), and with accepted UK standard for mapping catalogue records to indices

Joining CAIRNS: 2: 

Joining CAIRNS: 2 Talking to SCONE or SEED about collections and geographical sub-clumps Being aware of HILT Making the COSMIC connection Committing to implementation of the Bath Profile and the CAIRNS cataloguing and indexing standards

1. Why a Scottish focus?: 

1. Why a Scottish focus? Not because: little Scotlanders Recognise global context, need to integrate UK-wide, internationally Aim is to support Scottish culture, education, law, people, economy and represent Scottish interests Because in Scotland (and elsewhere) Small is beautiful if effective co-operation and local influence is the concern

2. A Scottish DNER?: 

2. A Scottish DNER? Not the intention A Scottish focus on those parts of the DNER that require a Scottish focus or Scottish control and management. Questions are: Can UK mechanisms be used to co-ordinate the Scottish focus? Would that be the best option? If not, how can we inter-operate?

3. Relevance to Digital  Scotland?: 

3. Relevance to Digital Scotland? Again, competing in the information age requires rapid, reliable access to resources and information Implies managing collections, user and retrieval environments – not market forces and search engines So need, mechanisms the same Plus: electronic AND hardcopy needed for the forseeable future

Now’s the day...: 

Now’s the day... Task of providing rapid, reliable access to information, resources getting bigger, harder, more expensive daily - every time a resource is added with no, poor, or incompatible metadata Unless duplication of effort and expenditure, a chaotic online environment, an informationally challenged Scotland acceptable, early action is needed

Further information: 

Further information CAIRNS gateway: http://cairns.lib.strath.ac.uk/ CDLR: http://cdlr.strath.ac.uk/ SCURL: http://scurl.ac.uk/ SLIC: http://www.slainte.org.uk d.m.nicholson@strath.ac.uk g.dunsire@napier.ac.uk