Jazzhub
See the final report
Repositories Start-up project
JazzHub is a digital repository start-up project managed by the Centre for Jazz Studies UK. Supported by JISC, JazzHub aims to provide access to a number of key resources, including the LCM Jazz Archive, international conference proceedings, sector-wide jazz research/teaching and learning materials, project outcomes and publications.
The 2-year project will involve the development of infrastructure, a pilot scheme and implementation programme, working in partnership with JISC and a number of academic and non-academic stakeholders. JazzHub will be used as a key resource for the UK Jazz Research Network, an open access membership organisation representing UKscholars and educators across 15 disciplinary areas, including Musicology, Film Studies, Education and Comparative Literature. A Doctoral studentship will be created in support of the JazzHub project.
Aims and objectives
Specifically, over a 2-year period commencing in April 2007, the JazzHub project will:
- Create an infrastructure for JazzHub, including strategy documents, policies, design and architecture, and a pilot scheme
- Stimulate networking, collaboration and virtual research projects through increased access to Centre for Jazz Studies UK materials
- Appoint a repository manager responsible for the management and implementation of JazzHub
- Support a research studentship to enhance the relationship between JazzHub, research and teaching and learning
- Develop good practice in partnership with JISC, linking closely with other UKrepositories and support services, including Intute
- Enable Leeds College of Music to develop its sector-wide output, presence and dissemination, post-HE sector transfer
- Develop strategic partnerships with other institutions, public bodies and networks, opening up the JazzHub to other resources, collections and user groups
Project Methodology
The JazzHub repository will be managed by the Centre for Jazz Studies UK. A repository working group has been established which draws on key College personnel, including the Head of Research & Enterprise, Head of Centre for Jazz Studies, LCM Jazz Archivist, and Head of IT/MIS. The group will oversee the implementation of the JazzHub repository start-up project on behalf of the Centre for Jazz Studies Steering Committee. The work of this group is monitored by the LCM Learning & Teaching Committee and Research Committee on behalf of the LCM Academic Board.
Anticipated Outputs and Outcomes
The JazzHub start-up project will produce the following project outcomes:
- Creating a central interdisciplinary resource for jazz research, teaching and learning, and archival materials, representing the needs and interests of over 50 FECs/HEIs across 15 disciplinary areas
- Providing access to a number of previously inaccessible materials from sheet music to sound recordings, research papers to jazz periodicals
- Stimulating and nurturing virtual networks and communities of interest through JazzHub and the JRN
- Creating a designated UKrepository for the Jazz and the Performing Arts, expanding the output of existing UKrepositories
- Preserving archive materials of national and international interest
- Enabling researchers to collaborate and share information in line with the 2010 vision of open-access repositories
- Raising the profile of JISC/UK Digital Repositories within the performing arts sector
- Providing a resource for sharing and disseminating good practice in research and teaching and learning
- Complementing the work of other digital repositories both nationally and internationally, improving interoperability between repository services
- Having a significant impact upon the sector-wide teaching and learning environment, bringing major benefits to jazz students on a number of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes
- Strengthening links between academic, professional and independent bodies (including Jazz Services, the Arts Council, Jazz Yorkshire, and Conservatories UK)
Technology / Standards used
The JazzHub repository start-up working group anticipates that the resource will adhere to relevant industry standards as outlined in the JISC technical standards. At this early stage of infrastructure development, the JazzHub team aims to work closely with JISC and other repository projects to ensure that standards are developed and maintained throughout and beyond the duration of the project. Initially, the JazzHub team will consider whether an all-encompassing metadata standard will be appropriate for the resource.
Further information