Warwick,
> It is my impression that, at present, there is no "decision body" which
> decides the content of the Dublin Core standard. Am I right?
Yes, this is correct. The goal of the workshops has been to build
concensus based on a broad representation of stakeholders and to
promote early adoption through projects that will demonstrate the
strengths and weaknesses of the the core element set.
> Do you see the Dublin Core as eventually becoming part of the URC family
> of standards, and therefore subject to the IETF process?
I don't know whether I think the IETF is the right place for
management of an element set such as this, but it might be. IETF
working groups are intended to emerge, focus on specific tasks, and
go out of business. Management of this sort of task is more of an
ongoing task. It may be a place to start, though. Clearly if there
begins to be a groundswell of deployment, there will need to be a
more formal maintenance and evolution structure. We entertained the
possibility of starting a working group a year or so ago, but the
timing did not seem ripe.
> As I understand it, the development of the Dublin Core has been undertaken
> through the OCLC Metadata Workshops, participation being by invitation.
Yes, invitations were issued by a steering group representing major
stakeholders. We are having an image metadata workshop this month
(co-sponsored by CNI and OCLC) for which an open call for
participation was issued (http://purl.org/oclc/rsch/imagemeta).
> Is there any existing Internet discussion list which is appropriate, as an
> open forum, for discussion of Dublin Core issues?
Yes... the listserv ([log in to unmask]) is an open forum for discussion
of these issues, and you are encouraged to join it. We have not broadcast
the openness of the list widely, primarily to keep participation focussed
and as noise-free as possible, but any serious party is welcome to join.
I'm taking the liberty of cc'ing this note to the list... I think your
questions are timely and important.
> I should explain that these questions have arisen out of a review which is
> occurring in Australia of a whole range of standards, and the methods by
> which Australia participates in the development of those standards.
I would be pleased to hear your reactions and suggestions about how to best
move these issues forward.
regards,
stu
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