From small beginnings: Developing collection level description Mapping the Information Landscape Showcase day British Library Conference Centre, London,25th March 2003

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From small beginningsDeveloping collection
level descriptionMapping the Information
Landscape Showcase day British Library
Conference Centre, London,25th March 2003

• Bridget Robinson Ann Chapman
• UKOLN, University of Bath
• Bath, BA2 7AY

Email cd-focus_at_ukoln.ac.uk URL http//www.ukoln.ac
.uk/
UKOLN is supported by
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In the beginning

• The eLib programme 1994-2001
• Collection level description a supporting
  study, report August 1999
• Full Disclosure 1999 Phase 1 recommendation
• Build a register of collections
• The RSLP 1999-2002
• Collaborative collection management
• Created bibliographic archival records
• Created collection descriptions
• Digitised images texts, portals

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The RSLP schema

• Analytical model of collections and their
  catalogues - Michael Heaney
• Collection level description metadata schema and
  associated syntax
• using RDF encoded into XML
• Web based tool
• MS Access database version
• for use by RSLP projects

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Uptake of RSLP schema

• Timescale some projects had already developed
  their own approach
• Mapping Asia EAD in XML
• COCOREES ROADS based web interface to MS Access
  database
• Use by non-RSLP projects
  moving out of HE
• Cornucopia Science Museum
• Reveal Cecilia
• Crossroads ITAM MIMAS resources

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RSLP schema modification

• RSLP schema issues
• Missing elements
• Elements not detailed enough
• Difficulties with element labels
• Difficulties understanding some elements
• Core plus extensions
• Adding on elements
• Adding on qualifiers

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Multiple uses, multiple viewpoints

• End user
• pupil, student, researcher, leisure interest
• Manager
• archives, museums, libraries, Internet
• Machine-to-machine
• interoperability, standards
• sharing effort through re-use

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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 as broadly similar objects
  (even where items heterogeneous)
• understand conditions of access use
• interpret collections
• Enable software agents to
• select collections to search on behalf of user
• control searches across collections

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CLDs provide high-level map of landscape for
user, researcher, visitor.
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Accessibility

• Disability Discrimination Act
• sensory and physical impairment
• structure, alt-text, keyboard operation
• Widening participation
• cognitive conditions
• Different views for different users
• students, researchers
• pupils, leisure interests

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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
• manage in collaboration with other providers
• identify, record, share information on strengths
  and weaknesses
• inform strategic planning
• institutional, cross-institutional, regional,
  sectoral, national

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CLDs also useful to resource managers?
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Sharing needs standards

• CLD are metadata records
• use by multiple applications / services
• machine-to-machine exchange
• build in from start
• Re-usability
• keep modification minimal
• export common elements only?
• Standards
• schema, thesauri, etc.

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Still early days

• End users
• uncertain buy-in from scholars
• preference for item level
• Few CLD databases launched yet
• case studies development
• user studies - evaluation
• Helping implementers
• Online Tutorial and training

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Whos using Collection Description now?

• AIM25
• Archives Hub
• Cecilia
• Collections Navigator NHM
• Cornucopia
• Crossroads

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Whos using Collection Description now?

• EnrichUK.net The nof-digitise
• Collection Portal
• ITAM MIMAS Collection Description
• Reveal
• The Science Culture website
• SCONE

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Acknowledgements

• UKOLN is funded by Resource the Council for
  Museums, Archives and Libraries, the Joint
  Information Systems Committee (JISC) of the UK
  higher and further education funding councils, as
  well as by project funding from the JISC and the
  European Union. UKOLN also receives support from
  the University of Bath where it is based.
• http//www.ukoln.ac.uk/