CDL Directory: A Prospectus
September 2, 1998
See sections below:
Introduction
The purpose of this document is to inform the campus libraries on the current state of development of the Directory of CDL-Licensed Content, and to solicit input on its architecture and functionality. The Directory will be the centerpiece of the CDL web site. The majority of users will come to the CDL web site in search of content, and it is through the Directory that users will discover this content. Through the Directory, users will be able to locate and access the wide variety of resources available through the CDL. These resources can take many forms, including electronic journals, databases, archival finding aids and campus-licensed content.The design process has been influenced by the various electronic resources lists currently available on the campus library web sites. The CDL has reviewed these lists and has incorporated many of their excellent features into the Directory design. This prospectus includes sections that describe the goals of the Directory and its core functionality. As the CDL moves closer towards actual implementation, there are a number of important questions that need to be asked:
- Is the Directory the type of resource the campus libraries would help shape and manage?
- Would you make use of the Directory on your library's web site?
- Would the Directory make the job of informing your users about available resources much easier?
- Would it make the job of managing your own library's web site easier (e.g., using the Directory to inform your users about electronic journals rather than continuing to maintain your own list)?
- What other features and functionality would you like to see in the Directory?
- What features that currently exist in your library's electronic resources list would you like to see incorporated into the Directory?
The CDL will also need the assistance of the UC campus library community in developing various components of the Directory and in providing feedback during the design phase, including the development of the Directory's:
- resource description
- subject vocabularies
- navigational schemes
- user interface/graphic design
These are all discussed below in more detail. The CDL hopes to be able to obtain some assistance in these areas during the months of September and October 1998. We plan to contact those individuals at the campus libraries who are involved in web development and electronic resource cataloging. In the meantime, we would really like to know your impressions.
Goals/Principles
The following goals and principles were used in guiding the development of the Directory's functional specifications.- Usability: The Directory will provide CDL web site users with a exceptionally useable tool that provides quick, seamless access to the resources available through the CDL. Users will be able to quickly obtain a comprehensive view of the resources available in the Directory. Users will be able to quickly locate resources of interest. Users will also be able to obtain customized, or personalized, views of Directory content. In future releases, the Directory will alert users to new resources in their topic areas.
- Shared creation and maintenance: The Directory will foster the development of a collaboration "space" where the UC campus libraries can participate in the creation and management of Directory content. Currently, most of the campus libraries have developed extensive lists of electronic journals and databases. These lists usually require a great deal of effort to maintain. As the list of CDL-licensed electronic journals continues to grow into the thousands, and as new electronic journals are potentially and routinely licensed in blocks of several hundred titles (e.g., Elsevier), it is difficult to imagine how the campus libraries will be able to continue the time-consuming task of maintaining these local lists. Through the Directory, we can bring together the best elements of these campus-developed lists, in addition to the vast expertise that resides on the campuses, in creating a highly useable, central resource. The CDL "co-library" model makes this kind of collaboration more feasible. All campus libraries can work together in the development and maintenance of the Directory. Instead of dedicating precious local resources in maintaining extensive local lists, the campus libraries will now have more time to spend developing innovative new tools for their users — tools that, in time, may prove to be so successful that their use can be extended to all UC users through the CDL.
- One University, one library: The Directory will serve as a single, unifying resource in whose creation and maintenance all campus libraries can participate. By doing so, the Directory will help foster the concept of "one University, one library." Just as importantly, the Directory will help serve to alleviate the problems many users experience in discovering new resources by providing a single, unified resource through which all CDL users can obtain access to needed resources, regardless of which campus they may be on.
- Campus customization: While the concept of "one University, one library" is an important one, we still exist in a reality where not all campuses will have access to all resources licensed through the CDL. Campus libraries will still wish to provide their users with customized views of the resources they are able to access. The campus libraries will also want to include locally-licensed resources. The Directory, therefore, will permit individual campus libraries the ability to present their users with campus-specific views of Directory content. The Directory will also provide access to resources that campuses have decided to license on their own. It will not be limited to only CDL-licensed content.
- Scalability: As the CDL matures, more important content will become available. At present, the CDL may only license about 1000 electronic journals. The day will no doubt come when the CDL will license many times that number. The Directory must therefore be able to scale as needed, without compromising performance or useability. Also, other types of content may become available. The Directory will eventually incorporate various CDL "sub-sites," such as the archival finding aids of the Online Archive of California. The Directory must therefore be flexible enough to seamlessly incorporate many disparate kinds of resources.
- Instructional support: The Directory will support instructional efforts at the campuses. The Directory's design will facilitate the creation of guides and tools that campus faculty can use in building electronic course syllabi. For example, a faculty member may wish to place links to electronic journals on her home page that support a course she is teaching. She will be able to use the Directory to do this. Campus librarians will also be able to create guides to important electronic resources in support of campus courses.
Features and Functionality
- Content: For the initial release, the Directory will contain information on and provide access to all CDL-licensed content, including electronic journals and databases (Melvyl Catalog system databases and library catalogs, too), in addition to resources licensed at the campus level. Information about CDL content, which is currently scattered across a number of web sites and information systems, will be brought together into the Directory (e.g., the content now listed under the Melvyl Catalog Web "Resources" link). The Directory will also contain records for the archival finding aids in the Online Archive of California.
- Comprehensive resource description: Each resource will be described through a multi-field resource description. Current metadata standards, such as Dublin Core, were used in drafting the initial description. We are asking for more feedback from the campus libraries in further refining the draft resource description.
- Database-driven: The Directory records will not exist as a series of HTML pages. The records will be stored in a database and HTML pages will be rendered "on-the-fly." This has number of advantages:
- We can deliver information from the Directory in an almost infinite number of views; e.g., according to campus library and user preferences
- We can use existing data streams (e.g., publisher- and campus-provided information, Melvyl Catalog data) to create records.
- We will be able to create an interface that will permit the campus libraries to update and add content to the Directory.
- Global updates will be possible.
- Hierarchical subject vocabularies: Each Directory record will be classed by subject. The subject vocabularies used will be hierarchical (e.g., Sciences: Life Sciences: Botany). Any record accessible through a specific subject, such as botany, will also be placed under the broader subjects in that hierarchy. This will provide the capability to include more specific resources in broad subject lists. Users will not be required to select the most specific subject to actually view a list of resources. A draft topic vocabulary is available for your review. In developing this draft vocabulary, we reviewed many of the vocabularies currently in use on the campus libraries web sites and OPACs and endeavored to incorporate most of their terminologies. We also consulted standard thesauri, such as DDC, LCSH, UDC and the NLM classification. However, we realize that much more work is needed on the vocabulary and would greatly appreciate more feedback. Areas that need particular attention are "Arts and Humanities" and "Social Sciences."
- Campus viewpoints: Since the resource description will indicate which campuses have access to a particular resource, it will be possible for users to view Directory content based on their campus affiliation. It will also be possible to profile the Directory so that it will default to a given campus viewpoint based on users' IP addresses. The Directory will also be able to provide a campus "stamp"; i.e., including your campus' name on Directory sessions coming from your users. It may even be possible to provide campus-specific links, such as a link back to your library's home page or help information.
- Robust search and browse: Simple and complex searches will be possible. Users will also be able to browse by alphabetical title or by topic. As mentioned above, users will be able to browse through lists of resources no matter how broad or narrow the subject. For example, if "social sciences" is selected, the user will see a list of all social sciences resources. If "psychology" is selected, the user will see a more focused listing of only psychology resources. Users will also be able to limit their browse requests to format (e.g., electronic journal) and/or campus affiliation.
- Navigation: Whether browsing or searching, the Directory will include a variety of navigational elements that will: 1) always indicate where within the Directory the user currently is; and 2) provide options for refining or changing search/browse parameters. For example, the full record display for a given resource will itself include links. Each subject in the "subject" field will be linked.
- Linking into the Directory: To facilitate both campus customization and instructional support, it will be possible to construct links into the Directory. For example, a campus library will be able to create a direct link on its web site to biochemistry electronic journals that its users can access. There will be many options and a great deal of flexibility in the kinds of links that can be created.