ADAM Bulletin - Summer 1997 (apologies for x-posting)
CONTENTS
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1. Prototype Browse Tree
2. New ADAM System
3. Friends of ADAM
1. Prototype Browse Tree
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After many months of work 'behind the scenes', a prototype browsing
interface to the ADAM database has now been developed. This allows the
database to be explored by navigating a hierarchical 'tree' of subject
headings, which is particularly useful for users who do not have
clearly-defined search goals.
The facility to browse the ADAM database has been regularly requested by
users since the ADAM service first became available in February 1996.
Following a period of consultation with the ADAM Steering Group, the
decision was taken to base the browsing classification on the Dewey
Decimal Classification Scheme (Edition 21), which has resulted in a very
steep learning curve for ADAM personnel!
The prototype Browse Tree can be found at
http://adam.ac.uk/cgi-bin/browse.pl
2. New ADAM System
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Following a lengthy procurement process, ADAM has finally awarded the
London-based System Simulation Limited the contract for the supply and
support of the new ADAM networked information discovery & retrieval
system.
System Simulation have extensive experience in the field of arts
computing, having worked to date with a variety of museums, galleries,
picture libraries, eLib projects, EU projects and others; a brief list
is provided below:
eLib: DIAD, Midrib, ADAM
EU: Aquarelle, ELISE, MAID, Van Eyck
Museums: V&A, British Museum, London Transport Museum, National Gallery
Other: CIMI, Hulton-Getty, Oxford Analytica
Funding to procure a new system to provide much of the core
functionality of the ADAM service came in the form of a 30,000 grant
from eLib, following a successful bid last year. The procurement itself
was conducted according to the guidelines of the CCTA, the Central
Computer and Telecommunications Agency, and involved a lengthy period of
discussion to establish the Statement of Requirements and Operational
Requirement, a bidding and shortlisting process, and the agreement of
complex contracts. The process also informed the procurement methodology
adopted by the Arts & Humanites Data Service for the integrated
catalogue.
The new system will be integrated with the existing ROADS software used
by ADAM to allow continued compatibility with the other eLib gateway
services, and will also feature Z39.50 features to allow
interoperability with the Arts & Humanites Data Service catalogue and
other external information providers. A pilot cross-domain search
interface that allows searches across a number of eLib services has also
been developed by the ROADS team.
ADAM SoR: http://adam.ac.uk/adam/tech/adam-sor.html
ADAM OR: http://adam.ac.uk/adam/tech/adam-or.html
AHDS OR: http://www.kcl.ac.uk/projects/ahds/pol/ahds-or.htm
ROADS Cross-domain search engine:
http://www.net.lut.ac.uk/xdomain/cgi-bin/search.pl
3. Friends of ADAM
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ADAM recently launched the 'Friends of ADAM' scheme, which will comprise
a network of trusted volunteers to assist in the development of the
service. The Friends will assist in a number of ways;
* Nominating and evaluating suitable resources
* Evaluating resource nominations received from the general public
* Cataloguing accepted resources
Friends of ADAM will be given initial training in the standards and
practices used by the service, and a certificate stating that they have
attained the appropriate skills required.
Currently we envisage that Friends of ADAM will be subject specialists,
librarians or museum curators, possibly studying for a vocational
qualification; becoming a Friend of ADAM would be useful for Library
Association Associateship applicants for example.
So far the response has been very encouraging, and the ADAM Team are
putting together a package of training and accreditation materials.
If you are interested in becoming a Friend of ADAM, please visit the
on-line registration page, e-mail us at [log in to unmask] or call on 01252
722441.
The Art, Design, Architecture & Media Information Gateway is funded by
JISC as part of its Electronic Libraries Programme.
-- Tony Gill ---------------------- Programme Leader: ADAM & VADS --
Surrey Institute of Art & Design * Farnham * Surrey * GU9 7DS * UK
Tel: +44 (0)1252 722441 x2427 * Fax: +44 (0)1252 712925
-- [log in to unmask] -- http://adam.ac.uk -- http://vads.ahds.ac.uk/ --
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