In relation to this discussion:
there is an article in the current issue of *Program* (July 1997. Vol 31
No 3)
sketching the clumps concept and outlining some desired features. It is
based on the outcomes of the MODELS workshop which gave rise to the clumps
initiative.
Lorcan
On Fri, 4 Jul 1997, Rosemary Russell wrote:
> Date: Fri, 4 Jul 1997 00:26:01 +0100 (BST)
> From: Rosemary Russell <[log in to unmask]>
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Cc: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: RE: Lost in cyberspace : URL
>
> On Tue, 1 Jul 1997 [log in to unmask] wrote:
>
> > To Rosemary Russell's observation
> >
> > >We *do* need Z39.50 to provide consistent searching, but we also need
> > >collection descriptions, so that users' Z39.50 searches can be directed at
> > >relevant resources.
> >
> > I'd add a couple of other needs without which Z39.50 will fail to achieve its
> > full potential in this area:
>
> Yes, there is a range of needs to be addressed, for Z39.50 to achieve its
> potential. (I singled out collection description earlier, in context).
> Others might include agreements on mapping attributes.
>
> > a) the importance of consistency in the data content found in those target
> > resources - ie, adoption of and adherence to standards by those responsible for
> > creating data, such as cataloguers (in the broadest sense of the term);
> >
> > b) the requirement for systems staff to be involved so that indexing of the
> > data by the target resource is coordinated wherever possible. If one target
> > includes, say, series titles in its 'title keyword' index and another has a
> > separate index of series title keywords then, whilst Rosemary is correct in
> > saying that Z39.50 provides consistent searching, it still fails to provide
> > consistent _retrieval_. The end user might be forgiven for failing to
> > appreciate the subtle difference, since the result to the user appears still to
> > be inconsistent.
>
> There are undoubtedly a lot of interoperability issues to be worked
> through. Some of the ONE partners for example, have carried out reindexing
> in order to achieve more consistent Z39.50 retrieval across ONE targets.
> >
> > One of the advantages of developments such as COPAC is that this sort of
> > 'clump' brings consistency to the search and retrieve process in a way that
> > would otherwise be difficult, if not impossible, to achieve at individual
> > institution level. Z39.50 does not, in itself, guarantee consistency overall,
> > but may serve as a catalyst in these other areas.
>
> Physical clumps such as COPAC certainly avoid some of the problems
> inherent in the distributed search process, but virtual clumps using
> Z39.50 are likely to become a more common service model. It will however
> take some effort to solve some of the interoperability issues: the eLib
> pilot virtual clumps are a step in this direction.
>
> Rosemary
>
> > Hugh Taylor
> > Head of Cataloguing
> > Cambridge University Library, West Road, Cambridge CB3 9DR, England
> > email: [log in to unmask] phone: +44 1223 333092
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> Rosemary Russell, UKOLN (UK Office for Library & Information
> Networking), ULCC, 20 Guilford St, London WC1N 1DZ
> Email: [log in to unmask]
> Tel: +44 (0)171 692 1302; Fax: +44 (0)171 692 1234
> <URL: http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/~lisrr/>
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> UKOLN, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, UK
> Tel: +44 (0)1225 826580; Fax: +44 (0)1225 826838
> ------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
>
Lorcan Dempsey <URL:http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/~lisld/>
---------------------- -----------------------------------------------
ph: +44 (0)1225 826254 UKOLN (UK Office for Library & Info Networking)
fx: +44 (0)1225 826838 University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, UK
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