From email dated Thu 10/26/2006 5:34 PM

...Scott Leslie wrote:

Liza, thanks for sending these my way. Here's some notes to maybe help

clarify:

RE: SOL*R can accept all file formats.

Well, any 'web-native' formats which means most mime types. We don't do

exe's. Some weird files (say molecular scans) would be dealt with as just

binary blobs - we could host them but not preview them. I doubt any of that

effects your situation.

RE: Liza Hutchison discussed with Scott Leslie the possibility of

having our own space in the repository. At this time, Scott

has asked that we put our materials under Education and

Library Studies. There are two ways we can set up the

repository. It can be open, and anyone can contribute or we

can create a group/community which has posting privileges.

The group/community model would allow us to specify

classification and we could search just for materials created

by this group/community.

Here's the choices:

- use the existing item definitions with their limited taxonomies (which

means no work for me, everyone can see your resources, but the 'subject

classification' is pretty thin. This is where I've asked you to start in

assessing the usefulness of the existing system and the needs it doesn't

currently fill)

- use the existing item definitions but extend the taxonomies or add

metadata fields (this is possible, some work for me, I would need convincing

that the extensions generally make sense for all, as they would slightly

impact others)

- use a new item definition that collected metadata specific to the

librarians but that was still visible by all (we would have to work out some

details on this as to what would be different about this profile and how it

would interrelate with the rest of the collection. Resources would still be

visible to all but the theory would be that there would be metadata

specifically useful to librarians. This has to be assessed for the impact to

the general user. We would also need to create a mechanism for creating a

'librarian' group; not that hard, but not currently in place)

- use a new item definition that collected metadata specific to the

librarians and only visible to librarians (this is pretty much your own

custom form and collection, still within SOL*R but totally tailored to your

requirements. The up side being you get exactly what you want, the downside

being ONLY YOU get what you want, I wouldn't expose this to the rest of the

collection. We would still need to figure out how to create the librarian

group.)

Does this all make sense? I'm hoping I haven't confused matters. Your

summary was likely just as accurate, and if what I've written here is along

the same lines as what you were discussing then probably no greater summary

is needed.

Cheers, Scott