7. Version Issues / Synchronization – Discussion Questions
The Government Printing Office (GPO) document, Digital Distribution to Depository Libraries: Exploring the Issues (9/6/2006) asks these questions about version issues/synchronization:
6. Version issues/synchronization a. If a library no longer selects similar publications, will it need to manage its collection to ensure that it is not providing access to a superseded version? i. If yes, how could this be accomplished?
FGI Responses Q: a. If a library no longer selects similar publications, will it need to manage its collection to ensure that it is not providing access to a superseded version? Our answer is maybe. Some superseded publications have historical value and so deserve continued accessibility. But depository libraries do have a responsibility to ensure that superseded content is clearly marked. We suspect this would be done through the bibliographic record. Q: i. If yes, how could this be accomplished? When a publication is no longer selected, all library catalog records with the same item number (if still used) should be marked as "possibly superseded, please check FDSys for most current version." Most Integrated Library Systems (ILS) have global search and update functions, so this should not be burdensome to depositories. The library would also have the option of removing both the catalog records and the digital publications subject to established retention guidelines. Continue reading
6. Selectivity – Discussion Questions
The Government Printing Office (GPO) document, Digital Distribution to Depository Libraries: Exploring the Issues (9/6/2006) asks these questions about Selectivity:
5. Selectivity a. When can a selective library / regional select only the digital version of a publication? b. Are there exceptions?
FGI Responses Q: a. When can a selective library / regional select only the digital version of a publication? A library may select only the digital version of a publication provided they have a backup and/or preservation plan for their digital publications subject to the exception below. Added 5pm 10/18/2006 - We'd like to be clear that we feel that selecting a digital item to be downloaded to a library's servers should not preclude that library from selecting a tangible format as well. We can envision times when a library would want both tangible and digital: one for easy access and searching, one for presentation/preservation and a different kind of access! Q: b. Are there exceptions? When the tangible format is a legally controlling version, then the tangible version must be selected. Continue reading
5. Metadata – Discussion Questions
The Government Printing Office (GPO) document, Digital Distribution to Depository Libraries: Exploring the Issues (9/6/2006) asks these questions about metadata:
4. Metadata a. Should GPO distribute bibliographic and other metadata as well as the digital publication? b. What other metadata should be routinely distributed?
FGI Responses Q: a. Should GPO distribute bibliographic and other metadata as well as the digital publication? Yes. But the issue is more complex than this question implies. We need to be thinking of "metadata" in new ways. It might be best to think of this question as two separate issues: First, should bibliographic and other metadata records be freely available? Secondly, should they be distributed (as opposed to being freely available) to FDLP libraries? We would answer "yes" to both those questions. We believe that a wide variety of rich metadata should be made available to the public without charge. The specific implementation of such a policy would require study, but we can imagine one specific instance that serves as an example: GPO could expose OAI records for harvesting using OAI-PMH. This would allow libraries, archives, digital repositories, citizens groups, and even individuals, to create indexes, guides, portals, bibliographies and even collections of government information, freely and relatively easily. We also believe that there need to be mechanisms for digital "deposit" of metadata with FDLP libraries. Such mechanisms will need to be developed, but they should include the ability of FDLP libraries to select what they want and receive what they select easily. This would enable FDLP libraries to easily and even automatically build their own indexes, guides, portals, bibliographies, and collections through the use of their OPACS and other tools. It would also facilitate FDLP libraries in their management of their own collections -- including government and non-government information -- in a common environment and with minimal special procedures for government information. Q: b. What other metadata should be routinely distributed? There are many different types of metadata: preservation, administrative, descriptive, technical, use, and others. (See for example, Gilliland-Swetland, Anne J. “Setting the Stage: Defining Metadata†in Introduction to Metadata: Pathways to Digital Information , Murtha Baca, ed. Los Angeles: Getty Information Institute, 2000, second edition. 12 pp. -- Third edition forthcoming, Summer 2006.) In addition, metadata can include Semantic Web, Thesaurus, and RDF-like information. Metadata can be highly structured and controlled, or user-contributed. A rich depository system needs methods of exposing, distributing, and sharing such metadata easily. One of the most valuable pieces of this puzzle will be the high-value, authoritative, metadata constructed by and for GPO for use in describing and managing government information for the long-term as mandated by Title 44 and as administered through FDsys. There should be a very high priority for distributing such metadata to FDLP libraries. Continue reading
4. Regional Responsibilities – Discussion Questions
The Government Printing Office (GPO) document, Digital Distribution to Depository Libraries: Exploring the Issues (9/6/2006) asks these questions about Regional Responsibilities:
3. Regional responsibilities a. What are the responsibilities of regional depositories for the digital publications GPO distributes? i. Should they be required to accept and maintain all digital publications that GPO distributes? ii. Should regional depositories be allowed to accept digital content as an alternative to the print or microform version?
FGI Responses We're somewhat hampered here at FGI because none of us has worked at a regional library. All of us have a selective perspective. So while we have opinions on this section, we're really hoping a Regional reader or two will come forth with feedback on these questions! Q: a. What are the responsibilities of regional depositories for the digital publications GPO distributes? We at FGI believe that regional depositories have the same responsibilities for digital materials as they do for all other formats. Q: i. Should they be required to accept and maintain all digital publications that GPO distributes? They should either be required to accept all digital publications or have selective housing agreements in place with selective depositories in their system. We should note that when we say "digital publications", we mean document-like objects. No one here is suggesting that any depository should be expected to be a full mirror for dynamic-database driven content. For example, we want to see deposit of Census publications and special reports, but American Factfinder would not be mirrored by any depository. Hosting databases usually requires software in addition to data. Even when the data is public domain, the software usually is not. Q: ii. Should regional depositories be allowed to accept digital content as an alternative to the print or microform version? As long as Regionals accept local storage of digital materials and have some kind of backup and/or preservation plan in place, they should be allowed to accept digital content as an alternative to print or microform version. Ideally such selection would take state bandwidth capabilities into account and be done in consultation with the local selective depositories. Continue reading
3. Infrastructure – Discussion Questions
The Government Printing Office (GPO) document, Digital Distribution to Depository Libraries: Exploring the Issues (9/6/2006) asks these questions about infrastructure:
2. Infrastructure a. Who determines sufficiency for local infrastructure to provide timely and effective public access? i. What are the criteria? ii. Should GPO develop guidelines as it did for workstations?
FGI Responses Q: a. Who determines sufficiency for local infrastructure to provide timely and effective public access? The same authorities who determine sufficiency in other areas of depository management. Q: i. What are the criteria? We would like to suggest a two tier criteria. A library accepting deposit of electronic government publications should be able to either: A) Provide download times for government publications similar to that from GPO. OR B) Be able to provide documents by CD/DVD, or by in-library use only IF the library is located in a low bandwidth area. The Pew Internet & American Life Project found that 75% of rural residents lacked broadband access as recently as February 2006. People in such areas aren't going to download documents easily from any web site. Q: ii. Should GPO develop guidelines as it did for workstations? We believe that GPO should develop guidelines for serving local digital documents like they have done so for workstations. GPO should focus on functional requirements rather than dictate specific systems, unless that hardware is required to receive automated distribution of digital publications. Continue reading