Web Magazine for Information Professionals

News and Events

Ariadne presents a brief summary of news and events.

Digital Data Curation in Practice: The Second International Digital Curation Conference

The second International Digital Curation Conference will take place over 21-22 November 2006 at the City Centre Hilton in Glasgow. The theme of the conference will be Digital Data Curation in Practice. The programme comprises a series of peer-reviewed papers covering a range of disciplines from social sciences and neurosciences to astronomy. The programme will also focus on a number of different aspects of the curation life cycle including the management of repositories, educating the data scientist and the role of policy and strategy. There will be a panel session on Open Science.

For further information: http://www.dcc.ac.uk/events/dcc-2006/

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Workshop on Semantics for Web Services (SemWS'06)

..in conjunction with 4th European Conference on Web Services (ECOWS'06),
4-6 December 2006, Zurich, Switzerland. http://events.deri.at/semws06

Workshop Theme

Semantic Web and Web Services have been envisioned as Semantic Web Services for dynamic discovery, selection, composition, negotiation and invocation of Web Services. Significant work has already been done in this decade to apply Semantic Web technologies for Web Services and a large body of relevant work exists from earlier decades, in fields such as formal languages, knowledge representation, planning, agent-based systems and artificial intelligence. Nevertheless many difficult research challenges remain, and much work is needed to adapt relevant existing technologies to the context of Web services and the Semantic Web, and to prepare the more mature models, languages, capabilities and architectures for widespread deployment.

This workshop under the umbrella of the ECOWS conference as being on of the premier conferences for both researchers and practitioners to exchange the latest advances in the state of the art and practices of Web Services, aims to cover the semantic aspects for Web Services. This workshop will provide a forum to focus on technical challenges for applying Semantic Web technologies to Web Services (i.e. Semantic Web Services), provide guidance to early adopters of Semantic Web Services technology, particularly in the business community and facilitate the formation of new communities of Semantic Web Services users.

Workshop Topics (include following, but not limited to)

For further information: Omair Shafiq omair.shafiq@deri.org

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Discovery and Access: Standards and the Information Chain

Thursday 7 December 2006, London

JISC is holding a seminar on standards and the information chain, co-sponsored by ALPSP, the Publishers Association, and CrossRef. Academic users want to discover and get access to relevant publications quickly and easily. Publishers, intermediaries, libraries, and their solutions vendors all develop services to make this happen. This seminar is about how they can use standards more effectively to share data about publications and enable these services.

Using standards is more than a technical issue. The seminar will cover what key standards are important, why they are important, and what they support at the user end of the information chain. It will also cover new developments and innovative applications. It will conclude with a panel discussion on the future and what needs to happen from different stakeholder perspectives. The aim is to explore how publishers, intermediaries, libraries, and their solutions vendors can use standards more effectively and agree any action needed to move things forward.

JISC has done much work to specify the standards for information environments at the user end. JISC has also worked with publishers on standards through the PALS Metadata and Interoperability Group and by funding projects to explore the innovative use of key standards. This seminar is an opportunity for all participants in the information chain to reflect on where we are, share views, and agree how to move things forward in a collaborative way.

Publishers, intermediaries, librarians, and solutions vendors are all invited, and there is no charge to attend the seminar.

For further information, the programme and an online booking form: http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/events/pals-2006/

[Source: Christine Baldwin, Programme Manager, JISC PALS 2 Programme]

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Technical Advisory Service for Images Workshops

TASI courses enable you to get hands-on experience of using digital imaging equipment and software allowing you to experiment, with the supervision and guidance of a professional practitioner. However, in addition to their practical element the courses also cover vital digital imaging theory in an understandable way.

The programme for the autumn is as follows:

* 9th November 2006: Photoshop - Level I
http://www.tasi.ac.uk/training/training.html#ps1

*10th November 2006: Photoshop - Level II
http://www.tasi.ac.uk/training/training.html#ps2

* 17th November 2006: Introduction to Image Metadata
http://www.tasi.ac.uk/training/training.html#met

All TASI courses are regularly reviewed and updated and full descriptions can be found at the URLs given, along with booking information.

Other workshops being run towards the end of the year are:

* 7th December 2006: Image Capture - Level I
http://www.tasi.ac.uk/training/training.html#ic1

* 8th December 2006: Image Capture - Level II
http://www.tasi.ac.uk/training/training.html#ic2

* 15th December 2006: Rights and Responsibilities: Using Technology to Manage Rights in Digital Images.
http://www.tasi.ac.uk/training/training.html#cp2

* 20th December 2006: Photoshop - Level III
http://www.tasi.ac.uk/training/training.html#ps3

To book your place on any of the workshops, follow the links from the relevant URL.

For further information
Grant Young, TASI Technical Research Officer
grant.young@bristol.ac.uk
http://www.ilrt.bris.ac.uk/aboutus/staff?search=cmgay

TASI - Technical Advisory Service for Images - A JISC Service
http://www.tasi.ac.uk/

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Netskills Workshops at the University of Leeds

1. Detecting and Deterring Plagiarism, 15 November 2006
This practical workshop explores the impact of the Web on plagiarism in education, and enables attendees to examine online and other methods of deterring and detecting it.

2. Effective e-Learning with Moodle, 16 November 2006
The Moodle learning environment is becoming increasingly popular in the UK education sector. It is free to use and is designed using sound pedagogical principles. This workshop introduces Moodle, its main features and demonstrates why Moodle is different from other learning environments.

3. Assessment Solutions for e-Learning, 17 November 2006
This workshop is aimed at individuals who are either currently delivering or are preparing to deliver assessment online. The workshop covers analysis, evaluation, planning and design stages leading to the development of pedagogically effective online assessment.

4. Problem-based e-Learning, 22 November 2006
Delivering higher order e-learning requires the application of thinking skills. This workshop introduces these concepts through the application of problem solving scenarios.

5. Mobile Learning: Education on Demand, 23 November 2006
Mobile Learning: the next stage of e-Learning, or a whole new learning experience? Learning without barriers, or the latest fad? This workshop explores the principles and practice of m-Learning. It is for anyone who is interested in the application of mobile technologies in education, or those who simply wish to know more about the emerging technologies and potential uses.

6. Communication and Collaboration for e-Learning, 24 November 2006
Are two heads really better than one? Discover how to use online communication and collaboration to enhance learning and teaching. Topics covered include designing collaborative e-learning, using tools such as blogs, wikis and podcasts and effective group moderation.

These workshops also support our BTEC-accredited qualifications:
http://www.netskills.ac.uk/content/products/accreditation/

Further information:
Further details for these workshops and of all Netskills events are available from:
http://www.netskills.ac.uk/content/products/workshops/

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Project Management for the Education Sector

8 December 2006, Edinburgh

This workshop introduces a project management methodology that can be adapted for any size of project and is specifically tailored to the needs of the education sector. The day is interactive, providing a structured approach to project management and investigating a number of examples.

It is provided in conjunction with JISC infoNet, the advisory service for managers in the post-compulsory education sector promoting effective planning, implementation and management of information and learning technology.

Further details of this workshop and of all Netskills events are available from: http://www.netskills.ac.uk/content/products/workshops/

Further information: JISC infoNet http://www.jiscinfonet.ac.uk/

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EPrints User Group Meeting

You are invited to participate in an EPrints User Group meeting at the Open Repositories Conference (San Antonio, January 2007) at which EPrints v3.0 will be formally launched. A wide range of potential themes and topics (technical and managerial) is suggested below.

Proposals for presentations, panels and discussions are invited for submission by 13 November 2006.

For full details, including submission instructions, see http://www.openrepositories.org/call/eprints/

Potential Themes and Topics:

Embedding EPrints within an Institution

Marketing Your Organisation and Its Research

Practical Experiences and War Stories

Critical Success Factors: what makes a good repository

Technical Issues and Enhancements

The above themes are not exhaustivepresentations on other issues relevant to EPrints users are welcomed.

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Course: Selecting and Implementing Web and Intranet Search

22 February 2007
CILIP, 7 Ridgmount Street, London, WC1E 7AE

Course Outline

Effective search is a vital element in ensuring that users of Web sites and intranets can be certain that they have found all the relevant information that is available. Search has to work, and work well. This workshop provides practical advice on selecting, installing and implementing search for Web sites and intranets. The opening sessions of the workshop explain how search technology works, an essential precursor to understanding how to get the best from commercial and open source search software. The workshop then goes on to illustrate the importance of the design and usability of the search results pages, and highlights the similarities and differences between searching Web sites and searching intranets. Desk top and enterprise search applications will also be discussed. Note that this workshop does not cover search engine optimisation.

The sessions will include:

Who should attend:

This workshop will be of benefit to Web and intranet managers who want to provide a better search experience for users, either through implementing a new search engine or through improving the usability of their current application. No technical knowledge of search software is required to gain the maximum benefit from this workshop.

Course Presenter: Martin White FCLIP

Martin White is Managing Director of Intranet Focus Ltd. Martin consults on the design and management of intranets and extranets, and on the specification and selection of content management and search software. He is the author of The Content Management Handbook published by Facet Publishing) and has just finished writing Making Search Work for publication by Facet in early 2007. Martin has been the Chairman of the Online Information Conference since 2000.

Costs (including lunch and refreshments): UKeiG members £130 + VAT (£152.75); others £160 + VAT (£188.00) Please register by 15 February 2007.

Further information:

To register your interest in this meeting, reserve a place, or request further details: meetings@ukeig.org.uk UKeiG is a Special Interest Group of CILIP: the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals UKeiG Website http://www.ukeig.org.uk/

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DRIVER: Networking European Scientific Repositories

An international partnership has started work on a project to build a large-scale public infrastructure for research information across Europe.

The "Digital Repository Infrastructure Vision for European Research" (DRIVER) project responds to the vision that any form of scientific-content resource, including scientific/technical reports, research articles, experimental or observational data, rich media and other digital objects should be freely accessible through simple Internet-based infrastructures. Like GEANT2, the successful European network for computing resources, data storage and transport, the new DRIVER repository infrastructure will enable researchers to plug into the new knowledge base and use scientific content in a standardised, open way. The project is funded by the European Commission under the auspices of the "Research Infrastructure" unit.

Open Access to research information is vital for researchers and helps the public appreciation and understanding of science. DRIVER will be helping countries to create networks of openly-accessible repositories for research information.

The project is a joint collaboration between ten international partners with the intention to create a knowledge base of European research. DRIVER will put a test-bed in place across Europe to assist the development of a knowledge infrastructure for the European Research Area. The project will develop over the next 18 months, building upon existing institutional repositories and networks, from countries including the Netherlands, Germany, France, Belgium and the UK. The aim is for one large-scale virtual content resource to be created to access and integrate individual repositories. DRIVER will also prepare for the future expansion and upgrade of the Digital Repository infrastructure across Europe and will ensure the widest possible user involvement.

Workshops will be run to establish communication and act as open forums for discussion and feedback to assist the development of the infrastructure and will facilitate the set-up and international networking of institutional repositories for the envisioned European DR infrastructure.

The DRIVER Consortium:

More information is available from:

The Project Web site: http://www.driver-repository.eu/ the individual project partners from participating countries or the project coordinators: Prof. Mike Hatzopolous (administrative) mike@di.uoa.gr and Dr. Norbert Lossau (scientific-technical) norbert.lossau@uni-bielefeld.de

[Source: Bill Hubbard, SHERPA Manager]

[Received: November 2006]
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Open-source Web Curator Tool developed by the National Library of New Zealand and the British Library

The National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Matauranga o Aotearoa, The British Library and Sytec, a subsidiary of TelstraClear, have announced the successful development of a web harvesting management system to be shared with other organisations around the world as open source software. Its initial release is now available, along with documentation on installation and operation. Further details are available below.

The system, known as the Web Curator Tool, is the latest development in the practice of Web harvesting (using software to 'crawl' through a specified section of the World Wide Web, and gather 'snapshots' of Web sites, including the images and documents posted on them). The Web Curator Tool is a further advance in the race to ensure the world's digital heritage is preserved for future generations and not lost through obsolescence and the temporary nature of the Web. The National Library of New Zealand and The British Library aim to integrate the Web Curator Tool into their own digital preservation programmes.

The Web Curator Tool has been developed as an enterprise class solution. It is interoperable with other organisational systems and has a user-centred design. The Web Curator Tool enables users to select, describe and harvest online publications without requiring an in-depth knowledge of Web harvesting technology. It is auditable, has workflows and identifies the content for archiving and then manages it, including permissions, selection, descriptions, scoping, harvesting and quality review.

The partnership was brought together under the auspices of the International Internet Preservation Consortium (IIPC), with members contributing to initial requirements. The project goal was to find a desktop solution to the challenge of collecting Web material that would allow widespread implementation of Web harvesting without requiring a high level of technical understanding. The project was funded entirely by the national libraries.

Editor's note: Ariadne will carry a main article on this topic in its winter issue.

[Received: October 2006]
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Dutch National Site for Doctoral Theses Officially Launched

Professor Blom, the University Rector of the Radboud University Nijmegen, has launched the National site for Doctoral Theses 'Promise of Science' on behalf of all University Rectors in the Netherlands. At the initiative of the SURF Foundation over 10,000 doctoral theses are currently available worldwide on the http://www.DAREnet.nl/promiseofscience Web site. The doctoral theses originate from all universities in the Netherlands.

The National Site for Doctoral Theses 'Promise of Science' was developed within the national DARE (Digital Academic REpositories) programme. This is a joint collaboration of all universities in the Netherlands, a number of scientific organisations and SURF. The aim of the DARE programme is to make research publications publicly accessible without any restrictions. The Web site DAREnet has been developed to realise public access to this material, through one site. DAREnet also contains a selection of 'Cream of Science', this gives access to publications of 200 prominent scientists in the Netherlands. With Promise of Science there is now also room for young, rising researchers next to the 'established' scientists.

Further information:
http://www.darenet.nl/
or
Gerard van Westrienen
Project Manager
National Site for Doctoral Theses:
westrienen@surf.nl

[Source: SURF Foundation]

[Received: October 2006]
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UK Reports on Digital Games in Education

For librarians interested in the use of digital games in education, two significant UK reports have been made public recently:

1. Teaching with games (downloadable report and surveys):

FutureLab have been working on a one-year project, supported by Electronic Arts, Microsoft, Take-Two and ISFE, where several COTS (Commercial Off The Shelf) games were used in classroom conditions to evaluate their relevance and usefulness.
http://www.futurelab.org.uk/research/teachingwithgames/findings.htm

2. Unlimited learning: computer and video games in the learning landscape http://tinyurl.com/mkool (1.2Mb PDF)

ELSPA (Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association), in association with the Department for Education and Skills' personalised content team have produced a good overview of the area with some nice examples and bang up-to-date information on games.

[Source: John Kirriemuir]

[Received: October 2006]
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Culture Secretary announces MLA Board appointments

Michael Walsh, Roy Clare, Yinnon Ezra, Nicholas Dodd and Sara Selwood have been appointed as Members of the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) Board. Sir Geoffrey Holland, Sarah Carthew, Glen Lawes, John Hicks, Geoffrey Bond, Alexander Cunningham, John Tarrant, Helen Forde and Robert Wand have been appointed as Regional Chairs and National Members to the Board of the MLA.

The appointments of current serving regional chairs Geoffrey Bond, Sir Geoffrey Holland, Sarah Carthew, John Hicks, Helen Forde and Alexander Cunningham will run for three years from 1 October 2006 to 30 September 2009. All the other appointments will run for four years from 1 October 2006 to 30 September 2010.

The MLA is chaired by Mark Wood, who was appointed - for four years - in June 2003.

Details of the announcement can be found on the DCMS Web site
http://www.culture.gov.uk/Reference_library/Press_notices/archive_2006/dcms117_06.htm

[Source: MLA]

[Received: October 2006]
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Lorraine Estelle appointed CEO of JISC Collections

The Board of the newly-formed limited company, JISC Collections, has announced that Lorraine Estelle is to be the first CEO of the company formed to build on the success of JISC's collection development activities.

With many years' experience in the publishing industry and having led the JISC Collections team and its negotiations for national licensing agreements for four years, Lorraine is, said David House, Chair of the company, 'the ideal choice to lead the new organisation into what is an exciting time of development for the provision of national online content for education.'

JISC Collections was formed as a limited company - on 1 August 2006 - in order to allow it to operate within a commercial framework and to place it on an equal footing with the commercial content providers it negotiates with. Further and Higher Education institutions are now being invited to join the company and will in time be directly represented on its Board.

Further information: http://www.jisc-collections.ac.uk/

[Source: JISC Collections]

[Received: October 2006]
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WWW2007: Paper submissions due 20 November

The deadline for paper submissions to WWW2007 is less than a month away! WWW2007 seeks original papers describing research in all areas of the Web. All refereed papers must be submitted on or before 20 November, 2006 (by 11:59pm Hawaii time). This is a hard deadline.

In addition to regular papers, we also solicit submissions of position papers articulating high-level architectural visions, describing challenging future directions, or critiquing current design wisdom. The WWW2007 technical programme will be divided into 13 tracks, and authors of the best papers will be invited to submit an enhanced version of their work for a special issue of the ACM Transactions on the Web.

The Call For Papers, with the complete list of research tracks, programme committee members, as well as formatting and submission details can be found at http://www2007.org/cfp.php

Note also: Tutorial proposals are due 27 November: http://www2007.org/prog-Tutorials.php

[Source: WWW2007 Newsletter]

[Received: October 2006]
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Publication Date: 30-October-2006 Publication: Ariadne Issue 49
Originating URL: http://www.ariadne.ac.uk /issue49/newsline/