National Science Portals: New Potential Partnerships for Global Discovery Eleanor G. Frierson Deputy Director, National Agricultural Library (U.S.), Co-chair Science.gov Alliance (U.S.) ICSTI Public Conference June 7, 2006

“Search opens up creations. It promotes the civic nature of publishing. Having searchable works is good for culture… Science is on a long-term campaign to bring all knowledge in the world into one vast, interconnected, footnoted, peer- reviewed web of facts….In science, there is a natural duty to make what is known searchable.” Kevin Kelly, May 14, 2006, The New York Times Magazine

“If we can accelerate the rate of scientific knowledge diffusion, we can accelerate innovation and advances in science. But, how can we accelerate knowledge diffusion?” Dr. Walt Warnick, Office of Scientific and Technical Information, U.S. Department of Energy

Today’s topics Issues concerning national science portals Examples of national science portals How might these national portals work together and with other partners to help create “one vast, interconnected footnoted, peer-reviewed web of facts” (Kelly)?

Issues concerning national science portals Authority: what policies, who sets? Audiences: who are they, what are their information needs? Content: open access only; government- only; proprietary information that must be licensed? Content: Surface Web (pages); Deep Web (databases, restricted access information)? Content: what about non-Web content and services? Content: what and how to integrate? Languages: which languages, how to use? Technologies: primarily Web-based, other?

Issues Concerning National Science Portals “On Web” services: search, browse, personalized tools, support for communities of practice, data and publication creation/ dissemination? “Off Web” services: help, publications, training, other? Funding: who pays? Participation: who needs to be involved, in what roles? Momentum: how to gain and keep commitment? Evaluation: how to know if it meets goals?

Examples of National Science Portals Australia Canada France Japan Germany United States

Australia System(s): National Authority: Federal Audiences: Industry, investors, research Technologies: Web site search Content: Explanatory texts, links to government Web sites and databases, newsletters, press releases Languages: English “On Web” services: Browse, search “Off Web” services: Not obvious Funding: Federal Participation: Government agencies Momentum: Responsible Federal agency Evaluation: Feedback via “Contact Us”

Canada System(s): cisti-icist.nrc- cnrc.gc.ca/cisti_e.htmlwww.science.gc.ca cisti-icist.nrc- cnrc.gc.ca/cisti_e.html National Authority: Federal Audiences: “Canadians”, scientific community Technologies: Web site search, database searching Content: Explanatory text, links to Web sites, databases, CISTI catalogue Languages: English, French “On Web” services: Links, news, search, order documents (CISTI) “Off Web” services: Information upon request service; CISTI Help Desk Funding: Federal, CISTI charges for some services Participation: Federal agencies Momentum: Responsible Federal agencies Evaluation: Feedback form (CISTI)

France System(s): National Authority: Federal Audiences: General Technologies: search Content: French language free of charge, validated online resources suitable for the general public. Most resources come from French research agencies and establishments Languages: French “On Web” services: Search, browse by categories “Off Web” services: Not obvious Funding: Federal Participation: Encouragement from Ministry of Research; French research agencies and establishments Momentum: Participatory organizations; editorial committee Evaluation: Not obvious

Germany System(s): National Authority: Federal (Ministry of Education and Research and German Research Foundation) Audiences: research and education Technologies: Surface and Deep Web searching Content: more than 20 virtual libraries and 4 scientific information networks, plus “for fee” access to electronic journals. Languages: German, English “On Web” services: Integrated searching, browsing “Off Web” services: Not obvious Funding: Federal plus “for fee” services Participation: Funding from Ministry of Education and Research; more than 40 institutions with almost 30 different individual services are integrated within Vascoda. Momentum: Sponsors & strategic alliance of partners Evaluation: Feedback form

Japan System(s): National Authority: Federal Audiences: Researchers and other users Technologies: search, database links Content: text, links to databases Languages: Japanese, English “On Web” services: Site search “Off Web” services: Document delivery, translation Funding: Federal, charging for services Participation: Federal Momentum: Federal mission Evaluation: Not obvious from site

United States System(s): National Authority: “FirstGov for Science” Audiences: “science-attentive citizens” Technologies: Surface and “Deep Web” search Content: Information provided via U.S. Federal government Web sites and databases Languages: English “On Web” services: Integrated search, browse, “alerts” “Off Web” services: response to “contact us” s Funding: voluntary contributions by participating agencies Participation: 16 organizations in 12 agencies Momentum: Science.gov Alliance structure, CENDI association Evaluation: American Customer Satisfaction Index survey (pilot)

Examples of National Science Portals: Conclusions Very different “look and feel” within the group Most are mono-lingual Some sites offer “for fee” services while others are completely “for free” Vascoda appears to be the only service aiming to integrate all relevant content, including proprietary content Science.gov offers unique integrated Web site and “Deep Web” search functionality Other sites are currently primarily lists of links with some text; some contain only government-produced information

How could National Portals Partner to Facilitate Global Discovery? Acknowledge each others’ existence from front pages Facilitate searching across multiple portals Exchange experiences and expertise Collaborate on facilitating multi- lingual discovery Establish joint projects Work towards Science.world

Progress So Far Vascoda – Science.gov visits, discussions Meeting at 2005 IFLA ICSTI presentations/discussions

How can ICSTI facilitate increased collaboration among national science portals?

Contact Us to Develop More Partnerships! Vascoda – Christine Burblies, Uwe Rosemann Science.gov – Eleanor Frierson, Tom Lahr For other portals - ????