5JSC/Restricted/Chair/9
7 August 2007
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To:
Sue Brown, Chair, The Committee of Principals
From:
Deirdre Kiorgaard, Chair, JSC
Subject:
Collaboration with the DCMI and
semantic web communities
This paper outlines the benefits and risks for RDA of continuing the collaboration
with the DCMI (Dublin Core Metadata Initiative) and the semantic web
communities that began with the Data Model Meeting held in London in April
20071.
The JSC seek:
1. The endorsement of the Committee of Principals (CoP) of the
recommendations of the Data Model Meeting, and
2. The assistance of the Committee of Principals (CoP) and the Co-Publishers
of AACR/ AACR Fund Committee (Trustees).in locating potential funding
sources, and in preparing funding proposals to take this work forward.
The paper supplements The Business model for RDA: Resource Description and
Access, which places the proposed collaboration within the broader context of the
Business Model.
Recommendations of the Data Model Meeting
The participants at the Data Model Meeting recommended that the two groups
work together to develop an RDA Application Profile, and specifically that the
following activities be undertaken:



development of an RDA Element Vocabulary
development of an RDA DC Application Profile based on FRBR and FRAD
disclosure of RDA Value Vocabularies using RDF/RDFS/SKOS
Together these proposals would make the RDA data model, data elements and
values available for use in a machine readable form which is consistent with
semantic web standards.
Following the Data Model Meeting an DC RDA Task Group, co-chaired by Gordon
Dunsire and Diane Hillmann, and a DC-RDA mailing list, were set up to move this
work forward. A DCMI/RDA meeting will be held in conjunction with DC-2007 at
the end of August, which Gordon Dunsire will attend on RDA’s behalf.
Benefits of continued collaboration
The specific benefits of the proposed collaboration will be that:
 the library community gets a metadata standard (RDA) that is compatible
with the Web Architecture, and that is fully interoperable with other
Semantic Web initiatives
 the DCMI community gets a library application profile firmly based on the
DCAM (Dublin Core Abstract Model) and FRBR (which will be a high profile
exemplar for others to follow)
 the Semantic Web community get a significant pool of well thought-out
metadata terms to re-use
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http://www.bl.uk/services/bibliographic/meeting.html
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RDA has already received significant benefits in the form of positive publicity
within the library community as well as a higher profile for RDA and increased
interest in RDA beyond the library community. In the longer term, this
collaboration may result in a wider uptake of RDA.
Risks
Business model
If this work proceeds, the aim would be to make the products of the collaborative
effort available freely in the public domain. The Business model for RDA:
Resource Description and Access, describes the broader impact of collaborative
activities such as this on the Business Model for RDA. The JSC believes that the
issues raised in that paper can be successfully addressed and do not pose a risk
for this proposed collaboration.
Timeframe for RDA
This work has the potential to impact on the ability of the Editor and the JSC to
deliver RDA’s content on schedule.
The JSC believe this risk can be managed through:
 ensuring that the other communities involved are aware of the high
priority we place on the completion of RDA on schedule, and
 ensuring that the collaborative work is scheduled and resourced to
minimise any impact on RDA’s schedule. To achieve this we need to draw
on others outside the JSC (such as Gordon Dunsire) to perform specific
tasks on our behalf.2
Overall, the JSC consider that the benefits to be gained from collaboration are
significant, and that the risks can be addressed.
Therefore:
1. Taking the risks and benefits of this work into account, the JSC seek
the endorsement of the Committee of Principals (CoP) of the
recommendations of the Data Model Meeting.
Funding issues
The participants of the Data Model meeting recommended that the Committee of
Principals and DCMI seek funding for work to develop an RDA Application Profile.
Potential sources for funding, including OCLC, library vendors such as TALIS, etc.,
as well as the National Science Foundation, have been discussed informally within
the RDA Project Management Committee. Diane Hillmann has also indicated that
she has received a positive reaction from NISO, who might either provide funding
or assist the group in obtaining funding.
Tom Baker has drafted a paper that outlines the background to this work, and
identifies tasks, resources and timeframes. A revised version of that paper, plus
parts of the National Science Foundation Proposal prepared by Diane Hillmann,
could be used as the basis for future funding proposals.
However, there are at present no mechanisms in place for seeking funding. The
responsibilities of each group: the Project Management Committee, the JSC, the
CoP and the Co-Publishers – and the chairs of each, as well as the RDA Project
Manager, in relation to preparing funding proposals, are not clear. As a result,
there is considerable uncertainty regarding how this can be progressed.
Note: Gordon Dunsire is already part of the RDA process through his active membership of the RDA
Outreach Group and the CILIP-BL Committee on AACR.
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Therefore:
2. The JSC seek the assistance of the Committee of Principals (CoP) and
the Co-Publishers of AACR/ AACR Fund Committee (Trustees). in locating
potential funding sources, and in preparing funding proposals to take this
work forward.
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