Australian Subject Gateways Forum

Summary of Outcomes of the 23 February 2001 Meeting

Held in Adelaide

The third meeting of the Australian Subject Gateways Forum was held on 23 February 2001 in Adelaide. It was attended by 19 participants, who represented 10 subject gateways. The guest speaker at the meeting was Lesly Huxley from Renardus. The meeting proved to be a productive session, which progressed a number of issues important to the Australian subject gateways.

Gateways represented

Business arising

Report from the Metadata Services Taskforce

The report (prepared by Jon Mason, Gavan McCarthy, Andrew Wells and Debbie Campbell) was discussed. It was noted that Andrew since left the NLA, and Debbie will be away till the end of May. Therefore the group suggested that the taskforce be now composed of Jon, Gavan, Nicole, Iain, Jan and Barbara.

  • ACTION 1:
    The Metadata Services Taskforce, comprising Jon Mason, Gavan McCarthy, Nicole Van Kempen, Iain Morrison, Jan Whitaker, Barbara Rozmus, to explore and develop a conceptual model for interoperability, taking into account options raised at the meeting and the models developed by Agrigate (the latter to be supplied by Jan). Basil Dewhurst, AMOL, to review the model as a technical expert.
  • ACTION 2:
    The Metadata Services Taskforce to report on ACTION 1 to the next ASGF meeting.

Revision of the Definitions for Web-based Services

Nicole presented the results of the draft revision of the document by the Working Group (Nicole Van Kempen, Louise Arkles and Barbara Rozmus) and asked for comments. The group has agreed to the proposed changes.

  • ACTION 3:
    Barbara to replace the current version of the Definitions for Web-based Services with the revised one.
  • ACTION 4:
    Promulgate the ASGF to the wider audience once a new easier to remember URL is obtained (eg PURL at the top level) by Barbara.

Feedback on testing the requirements listed in Requirements for Subject Gateway Software

Barbara asked all subject gateway owners for ongoing feedback on the Requirements for Subject Gateway Software document.

Feedback on testing the three Best Practice lists

Barbara presented the results of the draft revision of the Best Practice Checklist by the Working Group (Nicole Van Kempen, Louise Arkles and Barbara Rozmus) and asked for feedback. The group proposed further changes.

  • ACTION 5:
    Barbara to incorporate the proposed changes to the revised version and replace with it the existing document.

Updating of Characteristics of the Subject Gateways Involved in the Australian Subject Gateways Forum

Progress reports

The subject gateways owners provided a short overview of their developments in the last 6 months.

New business

Discussion on taking forward collective approach to resourcing activities common to subject gateways

In the discussion of possible funds which may support the ASGF activities, a synergy between the ASGF's objectives and the Backing the Australia's Ability report was pointed out as an area demanding further in-depth consideration.

  • ACTION 7:
    A working group comprising Jon Mason, Gulcin Cribb, Iain Morrison, Mike Currie and Gavan McCarthy to put together a position paper aiming to bring attention to the existence and objectives of the ASGF in order to position the group in a manner that may attract funding in the future, by 9 March.
  • ACTION 8:
    Iain Morrison to take the results of ACTION 7 to the meeting of the refocussed EdNA Reference Committee on 23 March and report back on the results of the meeting to the ASGF.

Issues resulting from Simon Jennings' paper

  • ACTION 9:
    The ASGF members to provide input into a formal response to Simon Jenning's paper via email to Barbara by 19 March. Debbie will forward the response to Simon while at DNER in London.

Lesly Huxley, Manager Renardus Dissemination and Support - presentation on the European Renardus Project

In the discussion which ensued after Lesly's presentation possible synergies with Renardus were explored. The use of cross-searching and Z39.50 as the key components of the Renardus framework was seen as of high relevance to the ASGF, given that we are trying to develop a coordinated approach in Australia. Another area of high interest was the rejection by the Renardus members of the concept of a central repository in favour of centralized subject index to forward queries to relevant gateways.

  • ACTION 10:
    Explore potential collaboration with Renardus regarding metadata sharing between individual ASGF gateways and Renardus. Jon Mason to coordinate.

Other business

HILT project

New NLA publications of relevance:

- Safeguarding Australia's web resources: guidelines for creators and publishers
- Managing web resources for persistent access

  • ACTION 11:
    Barbara to include the following documents in the closed area of the ASGF webpages:
    - the legal agreement template
    - Agrigate's legal agreement (Norbert to supply)
    - MOU between AMOL and EdNA Online (Jon to supply)
    - Subject gateways progress reports
  • ACTION 12:
    Barbara to include in the open area of the ASGF webpages:
    - information on the HILT project in the International Projects & Services of Relevance
    - links to the legislation on accessibility of web documents for people with disabilities (Mike to provide input)

Next meeting

Next meeting will be on 31 August 2001 (to be confirmed) in Brisbane, hosted by AVEL/University of Queensland.

Date last verified: 19 January 2005

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