Extending the CIC VEL to Encompass Digital Collections*
The CIC Library Directors
June, 1999
The CIC Virtual Electronic Library (VEL) is intended, ultimately, to provide seamless access to both traditional and digital library collections across the CIC member institutions. The current implementation provides a web-based interface into the public access catalogs of all CIC member university libraries, allows patrons to initiate their own interlibrary loan requests, and is creating a management system for these requests.
The success of the current implementation of the VEL can be attributed to a number of factors, including: the availability and application of standards-based technologies to provide access to disparate library automation systems; the depth and breadth of library collections across the CIC; and the rich human resources we draw upon for collaborative work. Building upon this success, the CIC is well-positioned to extend the VEL to encompass access to digital collections. Such a digital collection should be developed with efforts supporting two strategies:
§ The identification and deployment of a standards-based framework, or architecture, providing access to distributed digital collections developed, housed, and maintained at each CIC university. With such a distributed architecture, based on existing and emerging standards, there is opportunity for each institution to develop systems which meet local needs and draw on local infrastructure, but still meet the consortial goals of aggregating or federating resources.
§ The initiation of several collaborative projects that focus on digital content development and access, within the distributed architectural framework described above. Pilot projects should support specific academic programs across the CIC, and should include: 1) collaborative creation of digital works of retrospective and historic collections; 2) collaborative creation of specialized databases such as GIS; and 3) coordinated maintenance of Internet resources.
Projects should result in the creation of materials that will be developed using standards for such work, complement the teaching and learning missions of our universities, develop shared skills across the member institutions, and benefit all CIC institutions.
Such a framework for content and architecture development will necessarily include the development of policies for coordinated activity, whether involving several or all institutions, or drawing on specific skills and resources resident at a single institution. In order to achieve the vision of the digital library as an essential element of the VEL, during 1999/2000, the CIC should focus digital library project development in the following areas, which complement and support the broadly conceived strategies stated above:
1) Continued acquisition of electronic resources through group licensing;
2) Implementation of interoperable security, authentication, and authorization systems;
3) Exploration of metadata standards for digital objects and collections, and, when possible and desirable, the development of “toolkits” for the creation and use of metadata throughout the CIC.
4) Exploration, development, and testing of models for coordinated archiving responsibilities and technologies;
5) Identification of standards for the creation of digital collections and associated access structures, and, when possible and desirable, the development of “toolkits” for the creation and use of such collections; and
6) Development of an architecture for interoperable access, incorporating access to bibliographic data, metadata, and digital objects.
Projects and activities are underway in the areas identified in numbers 1, 2, and 3 (above). Projects should be initiated in areas 4, 5, and 6 working in concert with the Chief Information Officers when appropriate.
*This document is based upon a plan submitted in 1998 to the CIC Libraries by the Task Force on the CIC Electronic Collection. Members of the Task Force on the CIC Electronic Collection: Bonnie MacEwan, Penn. State University, (Chair); Barbara Allen, CIC; Gay Dannelly, Ohio State University; William Gosling, University of Michigan; Sharon Hogan, University of Illinois at Chicago; Wendy Lougee, University of Michigan; Charlene Mason, University of Minnesota; Susan Searing, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
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Revised: February 11, 2000