ALEG

Introduction

Stage 2 of the ALEG project has produced a data model design, an evaluation of implementation options and an implementation plan.

This report is just a pointer to the various documents which summarise the Stage 2 activities and which in turn reference the detail documentation.

Design

A draft design was produced in June 2000 and presented to a meeting to the ALEG partners in Hobart on July 8th. Following feedback, a series of design document were finalised. The Introduction to the Design document presents an overview of the design, which has been heavily influenced by four models:

1. The IFLA Functional Requirements for Bibliographic Records (FRBR) library data model
2. The INDECS project (INteroperability of Data in E-Commerce Systems) data model
3. The Harmony ABC strawman proposal for representing common metadata and explicitly modelling events
4. The ISO Topic Map model

Refer to the Introduction to the Design document for an overview and the Data Model Index and System Design document for a detailed discussion.

Implementation

The implementation options are discussed in the Implementation Options document.

It has been decided that the system will be based on the Apache web server, Tomcat servlet engine (both open source), Java programming language and the Oracle 8i database (already licensed by ADFA). The user interface will be entirely web based. The data maintenance functions will require use of the Internet Explorer version 5.5 browser. Z39.50 interoperability will be based on the Yaz Z39.50 toolkit (and the NLA have committed to helping with this aspect of the implementation).

Open Issues for Stage 3

1. User interface

   Various screen mockups are discussed in the Data Maintenance User Interface and General Public User Interface sections of the Design document. However, this aspect of the system requires more prototyping against real data to encourage feedback and settle on a firm design.

2. Access to holdings

   Following discussions with the NLA, the team is now more at ease that access to holdings via Kinetica is achievable, especially given the enthusiasm on the NLA to contribute to this aspect of the implementation. However, the precise details are let to be resolved.

3. Free -v- subscriber access

   Precisely what data will be free and what will require users to take out a subscription has not been decided.