A Standards Framework For Digital Library Programmes

21 September 2005 ICHIM 05, Paris Rosemary Russell UKOLN University of Bath

Email

[email protected]

URL

http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/ UKOLN is supported by: A centre of expertise in digital information management

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Contents

To cover: • Background to use of standards in UK higher and further education • • • • • Limitations of previous approaches Importance of context Layered approach developed by UKOLN Project perspective Implementation A centre of expertise in digital information management

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Background

Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC) development work: • Traditionally based on use of open standards to:  Support interoperability  Maximise accessibility  Avoid vendor lock-in  Provide architectural integrity  Help ensure long-term preservation History: • • eLib Standards document (v1 – 1996, v2 – 1998) DNER Standards document (2001) which influenced: • NOF-digi Technical Standards • ..

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Lessons Learnt

Feedback from earlier projects revealed problems: • • Lack of awareness of standards document Lack of knowledge of standards • • • Lack of technical expertise/resources Immaturity of standards Concerns that standards may not take off, or would change during project lifetime • • • Difficulties when building on existing work Uncertainty of what to do if standards not implemented correctly … A centre of expertise in digital information management

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Standards confusion

• • RSS • 2 standards (1.0, 2.0) • 3 different meanings (Rich Site Summary, RDF Site Summary, Really Simple Syndication…) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) • Compliance poor • Guidelines flawed A centre of expertise in digital information management

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Flexibility needed

A need for flexibility in the standards infrastructure: • • Learning the lessons from OSI networking PDF, Java owned by commercial companies • standards framework must recognise the need for a hybrid approach to standards A centre of expertise in digital information management

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Context: E-Learning

Standards have been mandated out of context, eg Sharable Content Object Reference Model (SCORM): • Designed for detailed tracking of learner activities – compliance a key factor • Inappropriate in HE collaborative learning context A centre of expertise in digital information management

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Layered approach

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Using this approach

• • Developed to support JISC development programmes Programme managers can decide areas where compliance is: • • • Mandatory Desirable, or Where projects can select solution A centre of expertise in digital information management

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The project’s perspective

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Implementation

How might this approach be used in practice?

Development Programme Committees Advisers Report JISC Service Programme Team JISC Manager JISC Manager Programme XX Call / Contract Contract Proposals must comply with XYZ standard Proposals should seek to comply with XYZ Proposals should describe approach to XYZ Projects audited to ensure compliance with … Projects should develop self-assessment procedures and submit findings to JISC Projects should submit proposed approach for approval/information Report must be in MS Word / … and use JISC template … A centre of expertise in digital information management Contract Services must self assess … and highlight significant deviations from …

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Compliance Issues

What does

must

• You   

must

mean?

comply with HTML standards What if I don't?

What if nobody does?

What if I use PDF?

• You

must

digitise clear rights on all resources you • You

must

accounts  provide properly audited What if I don't?

There is a need to clarify the meaning of

must

and for an understandable, realistic and reasonable

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Conclusions

• • • • Contextual approach to selection and use of open standards Pragmatic solution Guidance and support for projects Not prescriptive A centre of expertise in digital information management

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Scope Of The Standards Work

The Standards Catalogue will: • Cover JISC's development programmes • • Cover other JISC-funded development work Cover JISC-funded services • • Cover JISC itself Be available for others (e.g. institutional work) Content areas will include: • • • • Web Metadata E-learning Alerting     File formats Resource discovery Addressing Authentication • E-Research  A centre of expertise in digital information management …

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