Hello

I've just got an official confirmation from Sue Johnson ([log in to unmask]) that Ethos Download is back in full operation. In addition they admit that there is a small bug in the Download tool, that when a thesis is exported, the Author data no longer follow naming convention rules. This bug will be resolved as soon as possible. 

In our experience with The BL responses, I've found that they deal very promptly with any queries related to take down request. But we have some obstacles regarding technicality nuances. For example we got user and password set for the Ethos Download but service couldn't perform a search due to lack of internal permission. I think we were told about this service by someone visiting us before we joined the scheme. 

In terms of harvesting our repository content into the EThOS database, we were successful with this after a few months from our original request. But that was more than a year ago and I can imaging some technical aspects still had had to be set. So our content is/was (as it stopped few weeks ago) harvested via OAI-PMH protocol available through EPrints which is the software we use to run our repository. Unfortunately, I discovered that the plugin which supports EThOS UKETD_DC schema is not handling properly information about embargo date. In consequence, metadata about embargoed items are harvested and presented on the EThOS web page and marked as ready to download, which confuses users once they are getting to our repository. I developed a small patch for the plugin which resolves this issue. I'm not aware how other repository software such as DSpace or Fedora are handling this information.

Finally, there is some more profound overlook regarding quick and efficient ways of exchanging data between EThOS - IRs. Once again within EPrints there is no any default mechanism which could control process which records should be harvested by an EThOS OAI-PMH request. This can lead to record duplication in EThOS database! I'm in the process of developing some modification to EPrints which I'm intended to share. 

All the best,
Sebastian

-----Original Message-----
From: Kaba, Winsome [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
Sent: 04 August 2011 10:18
To: Janet Aucock; PALUCHA S.
Cc: [log in to unmask]
Subject: RE: How to download content form EThOS (BL)

Hello Janet,

I'm sorry to hear of your 'not so good' customer friendly experience with BL. I must say that I have had very good service from them since I have taken over the management of theses (January 2011). 

Yes, BL need to set up your account for downloading from EThOS as well as create your initial password. 

I have copied in Vicky Roy at BL. She is very good on customer service, and should be able to put you through to the relevant IT officer. 

All the best.
Winsome



Winsome Edwards Kaba
Information Resources Specialist
Library & Information Services
0121 204 4506         
[log in to unmask] 
www.aston.ac.uk 



-----Original Message-----
From: Janet Aucock [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
Sent: 03 August 2011 16:08
To: [log in to unmask]
Cc: Kaba, Winsome
Subject: RE: How to download content form EThOS (BL)

Dear Sebastian
Until I saw your post and Winsome's follow up on the list I wasn't aware of the http://ethosdownload.bl.uk/ site as a separate service.
Do you remember how you found out about it?
Did you have to request a particular username and password to use the service?

I have requested information from Ethos on a few occasions both re. downloading from their site and re. them harvesting from our repository, but  I never seem to make much progress! And often they don't follow up on replies.   
I'm assuming that once the new model comes on stream then they will have to ensure that they are harvesting from our individual sites and that this will move this along?  It would be so good to have quick and efficient ways of exchanging data with them.

Any information much appreciated
Best wishes
Janet


-----Original Message-----
From: UK discussion list for electronic theses and dissertations [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Kaba, Winsome
Sent: 03 August 2011 11:15
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: How to download content form EThOS (BL)

Hi Sebastian,

Thank you very much for this message. We are in the process of commencing the download of Aston's theses from Ethos to populate our repository. We will keep an eye out for the problems you have pointed out and will let you know our experience.


Winsome Edwards Kaba
Information Resources Specialist 

Library & Information Resources . Aston Triangle Birmingham, B4 7ET, UK
0121 204 4506.
 [log in to unmask]
www.aston.ac.uk 



-----Original Message-----
From: UK discussion list for electronic theses and dissertations [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of PALUCHA S.
Sent: 27 July 2011 15:38
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: How to download content form EThOS (BL)

Dear colleagues,

Durham University is participating in the EThOS schema and in the last few years we have been an "Open Access" member till the initial funding were drawn down. Thanks to our generous participation hundreds of theses completed at Durham  University were digitised through the BL service. We have also looked to maximise our money spent by reusing of created content outside the EThOS service. 

A year ago we were told that the proper way of downloading our university content should be through the counterpart service Ethos Download available at following address http://ethosdownload.bl.uk/. We were using this means of downloading in last few months and we have been able to download 430 theses out of one thousand available at the EThOS database. Unfortunately, after the last week EThOS maintenance work we are not able to download Durham theses through this rout anymore.

In addition we realise that some of the data available through Ethos Download service are as not as good as the one available from EThOS. This is clearly visible in the author names when data are available in various uncontrolled forms: full names or abbreviation with and without dots, various names separation such as space or no space, comas and dots. Unfortunately, this issues stops any successful en mass upload to institutional repositories. 

I wonder which organisation out there are using the BLs EThOS Download service or other means of obtaining content form the EThOS database. If so, do you have similar problems with the quality of metadata?

Any information greatly appreciate.

Best wishes,
Sebastian

--
Sebastian Pałucha
IS Specialist (Main Library)
Durham University Computing and Information Services South Road Durham
DH1 3LE
UK
T: 0191 3342941