OCLC Systems & Services

Norm Medeiros

2006 OCLC Systems & Services

doi: 10.1108/10650750610706934

Purpose – This article aims to identify areas where the ERMI specifications should extend to accommodate library consortia. Design/methodology/approach – The article notes current ERMI field definitions and their limitations vis‐à‐vis libraries wishing to share an electronic resource management system (ERMS). Findings – The article makes clear the reasons for the proposed ERMI extensions, and provides a means of effecting the extensions. Originality/value – Readers interested in purchasing an ERMS as part of a library group will be familiarized with potential pitfalls to their implementation.

Aprille McKay; Elizabeth Yakel

2006 OCLC Systems & Services

doi: 10.1108/10650750610706943

Purpose – The purpose of this article is to discuss key issues for archives and special collections related to the recent Library of Congress Orphan Works report and Section 108 Study Group. Design/methodology/approach – The article is a documentary and legal analysis. Findings – The article finds that recent developments in copyright, such as the Library of Congress' determination on Orphan Works and the Section 108 Study Group could have major implications for libraries and archives interested in digitizing their holdings and making them more widely available. Practical implications – This article points to several new and / or emerging developments in the evolution of Copyright law in the USA that have implications for libraries, archives, and museums. Originality/value – This article identifies and highlights the implications of the Orphan Works and the Section 108 Study Group findings on copyright.

Jeremy Frumkin

2006 OCLC Systems & Services

doi: 10.1108/10650750610706952

Purpose – This paper aims to postulates on the current limitations of digital libraries, and what digital libraries might be if librarians and digital library developers thought about digital libraries differently. Design/methodology/approach – The paper is in the form of an experiential commentary. Findings – The paper finds that libraries should be more accepting of change and embrace the digital world. Originality/value – This paper seeks to move the thinking about the future of digital libraries beyond its current scope. It should be of interest to digital library developers, librarians, and information scientists.

Robert Fox

2006 OCLC Systems and Services: International digital library perspectives

doi: 10.1108/10650750610706961

Purpose – This paper aims to examine issues surrounding digital stewardship and information security with the digital library. Design/methodology/approach – This paper is exploratory in nature. Findings – This paper highlights areas in which there needs to be awareness of information security issues in order to protect patrons and library resources. Practical implications – Information security is now everyone's business. Librarians who deal heavily in digital content must be active in their stewardship of digital library resources, both to preserve and protect potentially sensitive content, but also the privacy and confidentiality of the patrons. Originality/value – It is hoped that everyone who has anything to do with the creation, maintenance, dissemination and preservation of digital content in the library context will take information security seriously. This paper is intended to be a primer for those who have not taken account of information security issues to begin doing so on an ongoing basis.

H. Frank Cervone

2006 OCLC Systems and Services: International digital library perspectives

doi: 10.1108/10650750610706970

Purpose – The aim of this article is to develop an understanding of the issues related to risk management in digital library projects as well as techniques for mitigating risk in these projects. Design/methodology/approach – Using evidence from other research in the area, this article outlines the major risk issues within a project and then defines a model for mitigating risk within a project. Findings – The article finds that understanding the risk management entails understanding the underlying factors that contribute to project risks. These risks are often the same, regardless of the nature of the project. The first step in risk assessment is risk identification. Once risk identification is complete, risk analysis is used to identify the likelihood the risks that have been identified will happen. While there are several formal methods that can be used for risk analysis, many project managers use some type of matrix‐based decision process for analyzing and evaluating project risk. The most successful project managers maintain open lines of communication throughout their organizations to stay in touch with constituent's needs. Originality/value – This article fills a gap in the digital project management literature by helping project managers understand the issues related to project risk and how to avoid them, thereby insuring greater probability their project will come to a successful and satisfying conclusion.

Jeff Trzeciak; Shawn McCann; Matthew Martin

2006 OCLC Systems and Services: International digital library perspectives

doi: 10.1108/10650750610706989

Purpose – This technical paper aims to define the steps necessary to create an effective two‐dimensional image databases representing three‐dimensional museum objects for the purpose of instruction. Design/methodology/approach – The participating institutions reviewed six key types of services: finding content, collecting content, accessing content, documentation, accessibility, and access control. The project created, converted, described and transferred digitized images and data records from each partner to the web where they became universally accessible through a single common search interface. Findings – The paper finds that collaboration between different institutions creates rich collections, and relationships that benefit the community. Research limitations/implications – Capturing elements of three‐dimensional objects in a traditionally two‐dimensional medium provides unique challenges for web delivery. Practical implications – Provides learning materials and access to objects that were once locked in storage and rarely exhibited, especially fragile and delicate objects. Also provides an environment for students to learn how to work professionally they would not acquire in the classroom. Originality/value – New techniques in digitization were used and experimented with that are not widely used with these type of collections.

Krystyna K. Matusiak

2006 OCLC Systems and Services: International digital library perspectives

doi: 10.1108/10650750610706998

Purpose – User‐created metadata, often referred to as folksonomy or social classification, has received a considerable amount of attention in the digital library world. Social tagging is perceived as a tool for enhancing description of digital objects and providing a venue for user input and greater user engagement. This article seeks to examine the pros and cons of user‐generated metadata in the context of digital image collections and compares it to professionally created metadata schema and controlled vocabulary tools. Design/methodology/approach – The article provides an overview of challenges to concept‐based image indexing. It analyzes the characteristics of social classification and compares images described by users to a set of images indexed in a digital collection. Findings – The article finds that user‐generated metadata vary in the level of description, accuracy, and consistency and do not provide a solution to the challenges of image indexing. On the other hand, they reflects user's language and can lead toward user‐centered indexing and greater user engagement. Practical implications – Social tagging can be implemented as a supplement to professionally created metadata records to provide an opportunity for users to comment on images. Originality/value – The article introduces the idea of user‐centered image indexing in digital collections.