T A B L E   O F   C O N T E N T S
S E P T E M B E R / O C T O B E R   2 0 1 0
Volume 16, Number 9/10

doi:10.1045/september2010-contents
ISSN: 1082-9873

Continuing publication of D-Lib Magazine is made possible by the D-Lib Alliance.

E D I T O R I A L

Repositories and One More Thing
by Laurence Lannom, Corporation for National Research Initiatives

A R T I C L E S

Designing and Implementing Second Generation Digital Preservation Services: A Scalable Model for the Stanford Digital Repository
Article by Tom Cramer and Katherine Kott, Stanford University Libraries

Abstract: This paper describes the Stanford Digital Repository (SDR), a large scale, digital preservation system for scholarly materials. It examines the lessons-learned through over five years of development and operational experience. Building on the knowledge gained, the paper goes on to outline a new repository design and service framework, SDR 2.0, that will address some of the challenges that have emerged. Changes in the environment such as staffing levels and collaborative opportunities are also described. Finally, the paper includes observations on the general state of the preservation and repository communities, and the emergence of a new generation of systems and strategies in this space.

A Checklist and a Case for Documenting PREMIS-METS Decisions in a METS Profile
Article by Sally Vermaaten, Statistics New Zealand

Abstract: Shared metadata practices foster preservation and interoperability in several ways. They facilitate inter-repository exchange, the development of reusable metadata tools, and repository self-assessments and audits. Despite the benefits of shared practices, there has been little convergence on best practices for a widely used metadata strategy, PREMIS in METS. This paper proposes documenting PREMIS-METS decisions in METS profiles as a beneficial internal practice and an efficient way of sharing and comparing metadata strategies, thereby facilitating best practices. The paper then introduces a tool to help implementers document PREMIS-METS decisions in a METS profile. This tool is a checklist of 13 key PREMIS-METS issues that a repository should consider documenting in their METS profiles. Each of the 13 issues is illustrated with examples from METS profiles currently registered with the Library of Congress.

Representation and Recognition of Subject Repositories
Article by Jessica Adamick and Rebecca Reznik-Zellen, University of Massachusetts Amherst

Abstract: Subject repositories are under-studied and under-represented in library science literature and in the scholarly communication and digital library fields. A study of practical literature on subject repositories reveals a relatively small proportion of practical articles to total articles found that discuss subject repositories in some way — where practical refers to articles that would help inform decisions on repository development and management. In addition to the lack of practical literature on subject repositories, registries, software, publishers, and database thesauri do not define subject repositories consistently, do not recognize subject repositories as distinct from other types of repositories, or do not recognize subject repositories at all. At the same time, subject repositories are frequently cited as highly successful scholarly communication initiatives, especially in relation to institutional repositories. The lack of subject repository recognition within the literature and among commonly used repository tools may be attributed to the isolated development of the largest subject repositories and a general lack of awareness about small-scale subject repositories. The authors recommend an increase of literature and research on subject repositories, development of standard language, guidelines, and best practices, and the formation of a community of subject repository professionals.

The Simple Publishing Interface (SPI)
Article by Stefaan Ternier, Open Universiteit, The Netherlands, David Massart, European Schoolnet (EUN), Belgium, Michael Totschnig, University of Economics and Business (WU Wien), Austria, and Joris Klerkx and Erik Duval, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (K.U.Leuven), Belgium

Abstract: The Simple Publishing Interface (SPI) is a new publishing protocol, developed under the auspices of the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) workshop on learning technologies. This protocol aims to facilitate the communication between content producing tools and repositories that persistently manage learning resources and metadata. The SPI work focuses on two problems: (1) facilitating the metadata and resource publication process (publication in this context refers to the ability to ingest metadata and resources); and (2) enabling interoperability between various components in a federation of repositories. This article discusses the different contexts where a protocol for publishing resources is relevant. SPI contains an abstract domain model and presents several methods that a repository can support. An Atom Publishing Protocol binding is proposed that allows for implementing SPI with a concrete technology and enables interoperability between applications.

Development Strategy for High-Quality Science and Technology Journals in China
Article by Yao Changqing and Qiao Xiaodong, Institute of Science and Technology Information of China

Abstract: Although the number of science and technology (ST) journals has greatly increased in China in recent years, an absence of high-quality works with corresponding influence in the world and the low level of international visibility are out of step with the actual status of science, technology and economic development within China. The Ministry of Science and Technology of China has therefore planned and executed a development strategy for high-quality ST journals in order to advance the international competitive capacity of China's journals, build a high performance platform for publication and information exchange for ST journals, and materially playing a role in invigorating China through science, education and scientific innovation. For example, this Ministry started the Strategy for China's High-Quality ST Journals at the beginning of 2005. It also launched one national high-quality ST infrastructure project for ST Library & Information System in 2006. This article gives a brief introduction to the development strategy for China's high-quality ST Journals, including providing major support for leading journals in scientific subjects, a specific strategy for development of China's existing ST journals, and the selection system and implementation of China's ST journals. Finally, an integrated framework for building a high-quality ST journal platform based on DOI technology is described.

C O N F E R E N C E  R E P O R T

Making Repositories Mean More: Report on the Fifth International Conference on Open Repositories 2010
Conference Report by Carol Minton Morris, DuraSpace

Abstract: The Fifth International Conference on Open Repositories 2010, OR10, was held in Madrid, Spain, July 5-9, 2010. The conference organizers' aim was to "bring together individuals and organizations responsible for the conception, development, implementation and management of digital repositories, as well as stakeholders who interact with them, to address theoretical, practical, and strategic issues". The conference highlighted the importance of Open Access, and the value of interoperable institutional repositories and technologies to science and education.

N E W S   &   E V E N T S

In Brief: Short Items of Current Awareness

In the News: Recent Press Releases and Announcements

Clips & Pointers: Documents, Deadlines, Calls for Participation

Meetings, Conferences, Workshops: Calendar of activities associated with digital libraries research and technologies

F E A T U R E D   D I G I T A L
C O L L E C T I O N

IN Harmony: Sheet Music from Indiana is a collaborative initiative to present online sheet music from four Indiana repositories: the Indiana University Lilly Library, the Indiana State Library, the Indiana State Museum, and the Indiana Historical Society.

The project was funded in 2004 through an Institute of Museum and Library Services National Leadership grant, and work was coordinated by the Indiana University Digital Library Program. The IN Harmony site launched in June 2008, and since then has received 900,000 hits by visitors who use the site for research, performance, and personal enjoyment. Currently, there are nearly 14,000 pieces of sheet music available on the site, with more content represented as only thumbnails of publications still covered by copyright protection or as metadata records for as yet undigitized material.

In addition, the Indiana University Lilly Library is continuing to add content from their extensive Starr Sheet Music Collection of over 100,000 items. The Lilly Library's Sam DeVincent Collection of American Sheet Music is already on the IN Harmony site in its entirety.

As part of the grant-funded IN Harmony work, the Indiana University Digital Library Program developed a sheet music cataloging application that can generate MODS and simple Dublin Core representations of metadata records, and can export these inside an OAI-PMH Static Repository wrapper. Source code and installable versions of the cataloging application for both Windows and Mac are available on SourceForge.

D - L I B   E D I T O R I A L   S T A F F

Laurence Lannom, Editor-in-Chief
Catherine Rey, Managing Editor
Bonita Wilson, Contributing Editor

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