JISC

MIMAS, one of the JISC’s data centres, hosts a wide range of services which need to be described and accessed in different ways. This project will enable these services to be described individually, but in a consistent fashion thereby enabling reliable cross searching.

Aims and Objectives

The project’s objectives are to:

• Develop a database of metadata information relating to MIMAS data and information services
• Develop a Z39.50 infrastructure, using the “Cheshire” system, which will provide access to the primary metadata associated with the datasets hosted by MIMAS

This database, which will be interoperable with COPAC and other Z39.50 compliant databases, will significantly enhance the existing MIMAS services information infrastructure. It will also make a contribution to the overall development of the DNER by increasing the visibility of the data and information resources held at MIMAS and, in particular, via the subject portals being established as part of the  Resource Discovery Network.

Project design

MIMAS will work in collaboration with the Cheshire development team at the University of Liverpool. The Cheshire development is part of one of the projects in the JISC/NSF (National Science Foundation) Digital Libraries Initiative that forms part of the DNER development programme. The project will draw upon the base technologies developed through this project and apply them in a production environment to integrate the heterogeneous services of MIMAS.

Outcomes

The services offered by MIMAS will be enhanced by the development of a searchable portal that will:

• Use XML, and maybe RDF, exploiting ‘Cheshire’ and Z39.50 (Bath Profile) software
• Create metadata to describe the MIMAS dataset collections
• Utilise metadata standards including:
  • Dublin Core
  • RSLP Collection Description Schema in line with the RDN
  • Learning metadata, recognising MIMAS datasets as educational resources

Creation of learning metadata is out-of-scope within the timescale of this project, but should be considered in the future. As part of a longer term strategy this solution would enable the development and prototyping of a searching and retrieval environment that will better enable end users to navigate effectively the diverse data resources through an integrated MIMAS gateway. As an example, MIMAS has developed Descartes, a (Java) visualisation gateway to 1991 Census area statistics.   

Project partners

• Dr Paul Watry Liverpool University Library, PO Box 123, Liverpool L69 3DA, Tel: 0151 794 2696, Fax: 0151 794 2681 pwatry@liverpool.ac.uk