You have requested a page that has been archived. It has been left at this URL to ensure the persistence of links that have been made to it from other resources. It may contain broken links and out-of-date information.


National Resource Discovery Metadata Initiative

This test service has now been replaced by the ARROW Project.

 Overview

As part of its Electronic Information Resources Strategies and Action Plan 2001-2002, the National Library of Australia is developing a pilot resource discovery service to enhance access to Australian distributed digital resources. Work is currently underway to develop a proof-of-concept metadata repository which will include entries for web sites, digital theses, e-prints, learning objects and other e-resources. Data from each contributing service will be clearly branded.

Following a feasibility study, a limited pilot is now available. It is based on a hybrid architectural model supporting both centralised and distributed access to digital Australian resources.

¤ Australian Digital Theses Program
¤ Australian Journals Online (AJOL)
¤ The Australian National University's e-print repository
¤ EdNA Online, resources for educators
¤ Bright Sparcs
¤ The National Bibliographic Database, digital resources only
¤ National Library of Australia online exhibitions
¤ The Resource Discovery Network, Australian resources only
¤ The South Seas Project

In addition, some information will be extracted from other National Library services including PANDORA, Australian Journals Online (with online newspapers), and online exhibitions to support cross-searching of a wide range of content. Links to important cultural services such as the Australian Museums and galleries Online (AMOL) are also being explored. The DP9 Project of the Old Dominion University, which is providing an OAI gateway service for web crawlers, contains a similar range of cultural and scholarly materials as this pilot.

Collaboration is an important development plank for this service. The National Library is looking forward to connecting with other Australian projects under development including MusicAustralia, the higher education sector's Collaborative Online Learning Information System (COLIS) project and Australian Academic Research Libraries Information Network (AARLIN), and The Learning Federation's Schools Online Curriculum Content Initiative .

The National Library is also exchanging details of the pilot service with similar projects at the University of Michigan and the University of Illinois.

NLA Staff
Project Director: David Toll, Deputy Director-General
Project Manager: Debbie Campbell, Director, Coordination Support Branch
Project Researcher: Kristen Ritchie, Coordination Support Branch
Project Programmers: Tony Boston, Digital Services Director and Simon Jacob, Senior Programmer
Previous Project Personnel: David La, Senior Programmer

Go to National Library of Australia home page

NATIONAL LIBRARY OF AUSTRALIA, Canberra, ACT 2600, AUSTRALIA, ABN: 28 346 858 075
Telephone + 61 2 6262 1111; Facsimile +61 2 6257 1703; TTY: 1800 026 372