I followed the arguments in the most recent digest with some interest as
my own repository background has been primarily with neither research
publications nor learning objects but with multimedia objects. At
Leeds, we use a commercial product, Ex-Libris Digitool, which doesn't
really fit into the binary divide which most of the postings have
accepted, and we find that we have a wide range of material, supporting
both learning/teaching and research, though no actual research
publications (Leeds uses the consortial White Rose Repository, shared
with York and Sheffield and based in Eprints in that domain).
Since CETIS-METADATA exists for issues which are specific to learning
objects and that environment, thus meeting the need originally expressed
by Fred Riley, I would be loathe to see JISC-REPOSITORIES also move
towards specialisation, as that will leave people like myself completely
out in the cold. I also believe that we need a common forum in which to
discuss not just issues around a single instance of a "database, storage
and a heap of services", but the broader questions of information
environment, how we tie these different databases together (whether
within a single institution or in the broader national/international
framework) and precisely how we offer services to our users in order to
meet their various needs.
So a very strong plea from me for keeping this list as a "broad church"
where issues of general import can be discussed.
Michael
********************************************
Michael Emly
Collection Management Services Team Leader
Leeds University Library
tel. +44 (0)113 343 6444
email: [log in to unmask]
Postal address:
Brotherton Library, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT
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