home | news | contacts | services | projects | working groups | help | feedback

Aims

Establish a local cluster within the region to test the technical and logistical issues surrounding resource sharing across the library and information sector

The Plus model builds the East of England regional network through local clusters During the first project year, Norfolk is the base for the test cluster, which includes the following institutions: University of East Anglia; Norfolk Library and Information Service; City College Norwich; University Hospital Trust. Funding for a second project year will introduce a Hertfordshire Cluster.

A significant aspect of the clusters work will be developing a cross-domain resource sharing agreement, which can be tested and refined in a second year pilot project.

Prepare the groundwork for the establishment of a regional interoperability framework, which is cross-domain in nature.

Fretwell Downing Informatics has developed a technical model for interoperability, at the cluster level and at the regional level. In order to participate in the resource-sharing, institutions will need to have Z39.50 compliant systems, but not necessarily ILL/ISO compliant systems. Cluster interlending activities will be routed through a central server, hosted and maintained by FDI, which will also facilitate single integrated or broadcast searching. The cluster's technical framework can also access the greater distributed network of Co-East public libraries.

This technical model will make it easier for smaller institutions, especially museums and archives, not able to sustain a range of technology, to participate in regional resource-sharing. FDI has submitted a Cluster Technical specification, with an itemization of project costs, and development work will include mapping levels of interoperability across the library sector, and in the longer term, across the sectors, in the region.

Create a Regional Internet Portal The project will deliver an initial Regional Internet Portal, offering access to quality assessed content with a strong local flavour and opportunities for users to access some of the British Library's content, such as the Inside service. This will involve working closely with the British Library to assess the needs of the different types of users, who may be accessing their material. (Experience with the Co-East/Inside trial to date shows that 'repackaging' of British Library material may be necessary to make it appropriate to the potential public library market). A review of the relationship between the new Regional Internet Gateway and other existing and proposed Gateways and portals will also be undertaken.

Back | Next