From small beginnings: Developing collection level description Mapping the Information Landscape Showcase day British Library Conference Centre, London,25 th March 2003 Bridget Robinson & Ann Chapman UKOLN, University of Bath Bath, BA2 7AY UKOLN is supported by: URL

Collection Description Focus Showcase, London 25 March In the beginning The eLib programme Collection level description – a supporting study, report August 1999 Full Disclosure 1999 – Phase 1 recommendation Build a register of collections The RSLP Collaborative collection management Created bibliographic & archival records Created collection descriptions Digitised images & texts, portals

Collection Description Focus Showcase, London 25 March 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

Collection Description Focus Showcase, London 25 March 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

Collection Description Focus Showcase, London 25 March 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

Collection Description Focus Showcase, London 25 March 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

Collection Description Focus Showcase, London 25 March 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

Collection Description Focus Showcase, London 25 March Collection of physical objects Collection of metadata records Collection of books Collection of digital items Database of CLDs CLDs provide high-level “map” of landscape for user, researcher, visitor….

Collection Description Focus Showcase, London 25 March 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

Collection Description Focus Showcase, London 25 March 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 …

Collection Description Focus Showcase, London 25 March Database of CLDs … CLDs also useful to resource managers?

Collection Description Focus Showcase, London 25 March 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.

Collection Description Focus Showcase, London 25 March OAI Repository A OAI Repository B Harvest via OAI PMH Portal site C Web site A Collection of digital metadata records Collection of physical items Web site B Collection of digital metadata records Collection of digital items

Collection Description Focus Showcase, London 25 March 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

Collection Description Focus Showcase, London 25 March AIM25 Archives Hub Cecilia Collections Navigator – NHM Cornucopia Crossroads Who’s using Collection Description now?

Collection Description Focus Showcase, London 25 March Who’s using Collection Description now? EnrichUK.net: The nof-digitise Collection Portal ITAM: MIMAS Collection Description Reveal The Science & Culture website SCONE

Collection Description Focus Showcase, London 25 March 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.