We are approaching you in the hope that you will be prepared to test a new
service-in-development.
In January 2003 EDINA aims to launch the first release of a
ground-breaking new film service to the UK HE and FE communities. The
service enables users at subscribing institutions to download films and
videos. For at least the first year the service will be available free of
charge to UK Further and Higher Education institutions via Athens
accounts. Further details are given below.
THE TEST
The primary purpose of this test, which should be completed by Friday 22nd
November, is to explore the technical implications for you and your
institution of a service that delivers large media files to individual
PCs. If you wish to take part please contact the EDINA Helpdesk -
[log in to unmask] - immediately and we will supply you with a URL, together
with a username and password. Please note that the film material is for
testing purposes only. Conditions for use of the films are described on
the test service.
The log-in page also provides you with an online questionnaire, which we
would ask you to complete while examining the service and then submit to
EDINA as soon as possible. Your comments and suggestions will be
incorporated into the development of the service.
In order to support the service at subscribing institutions we are also
interested in recruiting EDINA Site Representatives and technical support
contacts. Further details are given below.
We appreciate that this is a very busy time of year for you but hope that
you will be sufficiently interested in the potential of this new service to
participate.
Regards
Rick Loup
Multimedia Services Development Officer
****************************************************************************
FURTHER DETAILS
THE FILMS
JISC is funding EDINA to host ten collections of film and video, which are
being cleared and digitised through the JISC's Managing Agent and Advisory
Service (MAAS, http://www.bufvc.ac.uk/maas/), which is a partnership
service of the British Universities Film & Video Council
(http://www.bufvc.ac.uk/) and the Open University
(http://www.open.ac.uk/). At present, that work is still underway, and
should result in over 1,000 film titles, about 300 hours in all, becoming
available by summer 2003. The collections (from sources such as Films of
Scotland, Anglia TV, St George's Hospital Medical School and the Imperial
War Museum) comprise a very broad range of material. The films will be of
interest to teachers and students in many different study areas, from
British and European history through media studies, archaeology,
performing arts and music to the medical, health and life sciences.
By January 2003 the service should offer material from six of the ten
collections.
The test service comprises only part of two of the ten collections, ETV
and Films of Scotland.
More information about the collections can be found on the EDINA website
at: http://edina.ac.uk/film/
More information about MAAS's work (particularly in the March, June and
October 2002 editions of Media Online) is at:
http://www.bufvc.ac.uk/publications/mediaonline.html
SUBSCRIPTION
Institutions wishing to subscribe to the film service in January 2003 will
be required to sign a sub-licence. This process will be administered by
MAAS. A full description of the subscription process will be provided when
the service is launched.
LOCAL SUPPORT
As well as signing the sub-licence, a subscribing institution should also
establish a structure for the support of users of the film service. In
addition to the Athens administrator, we recommend the appointment of an
EDINA site representative and a technical support contact.
The site rep should be the institution's single point of contact for
dealing with queries, support of the service and use of the data. The site
rep normally comes from within the institution's computer centre or
library and is likely to have knowledge of electronic audio-visual
materials.
Also likely to come from the institution's computer centre, the technical
support contact should deal with all technical issues relating to the
service.
The site rep can be the same person as the technical support contact.
The site rep and technical support contact can then build a team of other
local support staff as required.
The main functions of the support team will be:
To establish the service locally by setting up the necessary internal
administrative and technical structures, e.g. ensuring students' PCs are
equipped to download films successfully.
To promote and support the operation of the service so that it runs
effectively at their site, by registering users, liaising with EDINA staff,
representing their institution in matters such as providing feedback on use
of the service, ensuring data is used within the agreed terms of use, and
maintaining local support web pages.
If you (or someone else at your institution) would be prepared to be the
EDINA site rep for the film service an application form can be downloaded
either from the login page of the test service or from
http://edina.ac.uk/film/support/local_support.shtml
If you have any queries about any of the above, please contact the EDINA
helpdesk at [log in to unmask] or on 0131-650 3302.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
EDINA URL: http://edina.ac.uk
Edinburgh University Data Library Tel: 0131 650 3302
Main Library Building, George Square Fax: 0131 650 3308
Edinburgh EH8 9LJ Email: [log in to unmask]
|