UKOLN is supported by:

Bridget Robinson and Ann Chapman

From analytical model to implementation and beyondCD Focus Schema Forum,

CBI Conference Centre Point, London

12th February 2004

A centre of expertise in digital information management

www.ukoln.ac.uk

                                                             

From analytical model to implementation and beyond• RSLP Schema & the Analytical Model

• Implementations

• The User Viewpoint

• The Management Viewpoint

• RSLP and beyond

• Standards

• The Future

                                                             

The Model

• Is an abstract view of collections and their catalogues

• Is not tied to any specific implementation

• Has been translated into schemas– SCONE– RSLP

• Dublin Core Collection Description Application Profile

                                                             

Schemas

• Are sets of data elements that describe – The collection– Agents connected with the collection– Location of the collection– Associated resources– Relationships of the above entities

• Are used by implementations• SCONE and RSLP developed at same time• Common core as based on Heaney model

                                                             

Implementations

• Use schemas in one of two ways– Unmodified– Modified

• Modifications can be – Elements added– Elements omitted– Elements relabelled (usually for display)

                                                             

RSLP implementations - 1

• Rascal (NI)– Used full element set– Subject terms for searching, not displayed

• Backstage (Performing arts)– Used full element set– 11 elements relabelled– 1 element added (copyright)– 1 element qualified into 4 sub-elements

                                                             

RSLP implementations - 2

• EnrichUK.net (Digital materials)– 9 elements omitted– 5 elements relabelled– 1 element added (project details)

• Cecilia (Music collections)– 8 elements omitted– 8 elements relabelled– 2 elements added (Tradition, Provenance)

                                                             

Non-RSLP Implementations 1

• Reveal (accessible formats for VIP)– 6 elements omitted– 5 elements relabelled– 5 elements added (Audience, Level, 3 x admin)

• Cornucopia (currently museums only)– Version 1 was not based on RSLP – Some equivalent elements due to nature of data– Version 2 is based on RSLP and uses all

elements

                                                             

Non RSLP Implementations 2

• JISC Information Environment Service Registry– Collection description

• uses most RSLP elements• 4 elements added (copyright, use, licence, service)

– Service description• 14 elements

– Agent data (uses RSLP elements)– Admin metadata

• creator, modifier, dates, language, source

                                                             

The user viewpoint

• Enable collection provider to– disclose information about collections to

users• Enable user to

– discover/locate collections– select collections to explore/search on

basis of summary description– compare collections– understand conditions of use & access

                                                             

The user viewpoint

• Enable software agents to– select collections to search on behalf of

user– control searches across collections

                                                             

The management viewpoint

• Enable collection provider to manage own collections– control/audit/review holdings internally– identify collections at risk– assess priorities for item-level cataloguing

                                                             

The management viewpoint

• Enable collection provider to– Manage in collaboration with other

providers• Identify, record, share information on

strengths and weaknesses

– Inform strategic planning• Institutional, cross-institutional, regional,

sectoral, national and international

                                                             

RSLP and beyond - 1

• Legacy of RSLP“ A great benefit was the discovery of resources.

Working together to make these assorted collections known to, and available to the user community.”Report to the RSLP - Colin Harris

• Full Disclosure Prioritisation StudyStresses the role of collection description as a first step towards prioritisation.Impact and value of collection-level descriptionprojects e.g. RASCAL

                                                             

RSLP and beyond - 2

• Resource – Preserving the Past for the Future– National Framework for Collection

Management– Cornucopia

• CURL/RSLP Collection Mapping– Concentrates on the automated mapping

collection strength

                                                             

Who else?

• National Initiatives– Common Information Environment– Culture Online– Curriculum Online/College Online– National Grid for Learning– National Electronic Library for Health

• Institutional Initiatives– Virtual Learning Environments & Managed

Learning Environments– Collections of Learning Objects– ePrints

                                                             

Standards

• CLD are metadata records– used by multiple applications/services– machine to machine exchange

• Re-usability– Keep modification minimal

• Standards– schema, thesauri, controlled vocabulary

etc

                                                             

The Future

• One schema fits all– Is this feasible or realistic?

• Two (related) schemas in use– How to maintain them in parallel– Interoperability issues from possible divergence

• Two schemas plus modified versions– Interoperability issues - wider divergence

• Issues are both strategic and technical