RLUK

The JISC and RLUK Resource Discovery taskforce was formed to focus on defining the requirements for the provision of a shared UK resource discovery infrastructure for libraries, archives, museums and related resources to support education and research. The taskforce focused on metadata that can assist in access to resources, with a special reference to serials, books, archives/special collections and museum collections.

This plan accompanies the vision produced by the taskforce and describes the work that is planned up until 2012 to ensure the vision is achieved.

Background

The work that led to the convening of the resource discovery taskforce and the context for the vision are explained on the resource discovery taskforce blog.

Programme of activity

JISC will fund projects that contribute to this programme of activity. However it is expected that other organisations will be doing complementary projects and this plan will be updated and expanded to take account of relevant work.

1. Development of framework
   1. Consultation with relevant parties
      1. Service providers involved at this early stage
      2. Content suppliers
   2. Development of framework
      1. Define business models.
      2. Define governance
      3. Focus on sustainability
      4. Develop partnerships with similar initiatives
      5. Maintain risk register and communication plan.
2. Investigation of licensing issues with existing and prospective aggregations.
   1. A study to be commissioned early
   2. Ongoing effort devoted to this workpackage throughout the implementation plan, needs to include testing and development of licensing regimes. RLUK data will be a good test case
3. Identification of candidate metadata for aggregation
   1. Initial deliverable to identify content ready now.
      1. JISC services are a top priority.
      2. Sustainability
   2. Phase 2 of content identification in the second phase of the project (Q3 2011). To focus on next priorities and to identify difficulties that need to be addressed.
4. Identification of metadata standards and technology
   1. This will involve consultation with content providers and service builders to ensure the chosen solutions will be suitable for both parties.
   2. Initial deliverable – identification of suitable content.
      1. Identify minimal amount of metadata.
      2. How to achieve this minimal amount.
      3. What are use cases and how do we work across different types of resources
      4. Lessons from application profile work need to be fed in.
      5. Would need to be dependent on resources identified in various WP3
      6. Interoperability with search engines
5. Commission projects to work with universities and other relevant institutions to add their metadata to aggregations or to produce new aggregations
   1. Strand 1 – UK (primary focus). This will probably take a project based approach.
   2. Strand 2 – related sectors in the UK (secondary focus – assess robustness and interoperability)
   3. Strand 3 – non UK aggregations (secondary focus – assess robustness and interoperability)
6. Support for people wishing to provide content to aggregations, produce aggregations or develop services. We expect this to cover HEIs that are not currently represented through national discovery services as well as other relevant institutions. This support will need to:
   1. To run concurrently with Work package 5
   2. To include consideration of incentives for libraries, archives and museums that wish to cooperate.
   3. To engage with service providers and to encourage use of the metadata aggregations.
7. A communication plan. JISC and RLUK will dedicate effort to communicating the value of the vision and the benefits of participation to content providers, service builders and readers. This workpackage will start early and run for the length of the project. It may include a workshop to set targets.

For more information on the Taskforce and to read the Blog click here.

27th May 2011: Press Release - RDTF launched as 'Discovery'