Print

Print


Nick, or anyone else.

We are looking at the XML publication of Museum catalogues, and are
interested in any existing schema out there. I have seen the CIMI/Spectrum
schema, but MIDAS is new to me. Can anyone point me to some more
information about MIDAS (pref. in a non-XML format, which is all I can find
at the moment).

Many thanks,
Matthew
--------------------------------
New Media Content Manager
Department of Learning and Information
The British Museum
www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk
direct line: +44 (0)20 7323 8169


-----Original Message-----
From: Museums Computer Group [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Nick
Case
Sent: 04 May 2005 10:38
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Is anyone using OAI with exports from collections databases?

Hi Mia

Oxford ArchDigital (OAD) is currently involved in a large-scale EU
initiative called BRICKS that has OAI-PMH at its core for distributing and
harvesting metadata above collections.  The UK team leader is the MLA. In
addition to this, the advent and adoption of the MIDAS XML standard for
archaeological heritage means that our primary HER/SMR software suite must
have so-called 'XML-connectors' that allow admins to import and export XML
data to and from relational databases. All collections and content
management systems will have these in the next year or two.

The good news is that there are existing tools to help you do this.  If the
application is in .NET, Microsoft has a suite of XML-based tools; if you
are based on open source, or vendor-neutral, technologies (as OAD is),
there is a freely available application called XMLDBMS
[http://www.rpbourret.com/xmldbms/] that allows you to transform data
between a variety of database back-ends and XML.  You can also use a range
of freely-available tools that dump content straight to OAI, but their
usability depends on your infrastructure and collections database.
The fist place to look is http://www.openarchives.org/tools/tools.html
which list a range of tools for building OAI connectors, many of them free.

The bad news is that the process of translating this data between XML and
DBMS cannot be done with a few clicks of the mouse, and therefore you
usually always have to get a developer on board to help you build a
connector, if your application does not support it natively.

Hope that helps

Nick Case
Managing Director

Oxford ArchDigital
27 Park End Street
Oxford OX1 1HU

Tel:    ++44-1865-793043
Web:    http://oxarchdigital.com

Ridge, Mia wrote:
> Dear all,
>
> We are involved in a major digitisation project titled Exploring 20th
Century London. This is an attempt to integrate the collections databases
of four museums across London, and then make this aggregated data available
to search on a website.
>
> We have looked at different methods of sharing data - Z39.50, OAI etc
and have decided to go with the OAI-PMH (Open Archives Initiative -
Protocol for metadata harvesting - http://www.openarchives.org/).
>
> In order for the Museum of London to contribute records to the
project, we need to export data out of Multi MIMSY, using an agreed schema.
At the moment we intend to use an extension of the DC.Culture schema.
>
> We also need to be able to export records from AdLib, MUSIMS and CALM.
>
> Does anyone have any experience working with OAI or other XML-based
exports from collections databases?
>
> Best regards,
>
> Mia
>
>
> Mia Ridge
> Database Developer, Museum Systems Team Museum of London Group
> Mortimer Wheeler House
> 46 Eagle Wharf Road
> London. N1 7ED
> Tel: 020 7410 2205
> Fax: 020 7410 2201
> Email: [log in to unmask]
> www.museumoflondon.org.uk
>
> The London Look: Fashion from street to catwalk.  Extended until 10
> July 2005 Special web feature: www.museumoflondon.org.uk/londonlook
>


_____________________________________
Africa at the British Museum throughout 2005

http://www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk/africa05

> Ground Force: the last garden ever
> Views from Africa: encounters with Europe Music, trails and half-term
> events
> Mummy: the inside story history uncovered, in 3 dimensions Tree of
> Life sculpture, from decommissioned guns
_____________________________________