ALEG

What I've done

• Read all the material in the folders!

• Talked to Tessa & Kathy and hence I now have a good idea of how the current system works, strengths and weaknesses.

• Talked to Fran about history and operation of AUSTLIT, likely hardware/software platforms for the new system, applicability of DB/Textworks, Voyager, Oracle.

• Talked to Kerry Kilner about BAL and other non-AUSTLIT resources. I'm confident I understand the scope of what we are taking on here, although I don't yet appreciate all the details, I'm sure!

• Talked to Christine Fulton to get a better idea of some MARC issues, especially mapping AUSTLIT/BAL data to MARC.

• Contacted Gavan McCarthy to find out about how they represent relationships in their work. This was encouraging, as I think we are on the same track with similar requirements/data model, and we'll be able to leverage their thinking/work.

• Contacted Debbie Campbell to raise some Z39.50 and ROADS issues (she has been busy - probably talk in depth with her next week)

• Discussed deeper layers of the project with Marie-Louise and Annette - specifically:
  • draft 0.1 data model on my whiteboard
  • cutover strategies
  • access/subscription issues
  • consortia issues (branding, inclusive development)

Thought about Voyager, become less convinced that the Voyager system offers us much of use (but need to look at it closely next week).
Thought about MARC, become less convinced that the MARC data model is a sensible way to represent the rich relationships ALEG needs (but remain convinced of its use as an interoperability/exchange mechanism).
Thought about data maintenance issues following discussions with Tessa/Kathy/Kerry. Slightly worried that Voyager won't support the required flexability to make the interface 'wonderful' (as requested by Kerry) - need to investigate further, but leaning towards web form implementation with fancy popups, drag and drop, etc...
• Looked deeper at Z39.50 and at ROADS - need to talk over some ideas with Debbie Campbell.

• Started getting an appreciation of EAD.

• Produced a few Draft Stage 1 reports, hopefully getting close to a final...

• Find out more about Kinetica and NLA plans for making holdings data available at no cost (?)

• Finalise Stage 1 report

• Begin Stage 2:
  • Data Model
    • look closely at what we need to store (data model)
    • look closely at Gavan's model
    • produce a first draft of the data model
  • Searching Requirements
    • begin formulating a realistic set of sample queries against which we can test the data model and implementation options (Voyager, DB/textworks, native Oracle/Web, ...)
  • Identify aids for distributed management/maintenance
    • workflow, chat, email, web ...
  • Copy-cataloging
    • attempt to quantify costs/benefits of picking up info from ADFA &/or Kinetica catalogue with varying levels of automation (down to copy n paste)

• Status code: green (airlocks sealed, phasers at full power). Still on schedule - I've probably spent between 7 and 8 person days on Stage 1, and around 1 day on Stage 2 prep work.