Re: Separate Databases and a question about Wam!Net

From: Allison Zhang (allison_zhang@CHS.ORG)
Date: Thu Oct 26 2000 - 10:29:02 CDT


Message-Id: <200010261534.IAA12964@dns.ccit.arizona.edu>
Date:         Thu, 26 Oct 2000 11:29:02 -0400
From: Allison Zhang <mailto:allison_zhang@CHS.ORG>
Subject:      Re: Separate Databases and a question about Wam!Net
To: mailto:IMAGELIB@LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU


<pre> Anne:

We use Voyager, an integrated library automation system developed by Endeavor Information Systems, for our Connecticut History Online project. We will catalog about 14,000 images and make them available through Voyager OPAC. A pilot site is available at http://www.lib.uconn.edu/cho/.

I was also involved with Rochester Images project (designed web site for them). They use CARL, a MARC based library system to catalog their images. http://mcls.rochester.lib.ny.us/rochimag/

Your question is a critical question that every digital library manager would ask first. I will try to explain briefly.

1. Most library cataloging systems are MARC based. You will have to catalog the images in MARC format. Currently, both AACR2 rules and MARC don't have adequate information on how to catalog online images, which makes cataloging online images in a library system more difficult.

2. MARC based records can be only retrieved through a MARC based system. This means, if you want to search images using any Internet search engines, you cannot retrieve the images cataloged in MARC format. You will have to search the images within your library catalog.

3. Since most library systems are not designed for retrieving images, OPAC may not be user friendly in displaying images. This is a problem we are having now. The Voyager OPAC cannot display thumbnail images within a record. You will see that if you visit our database. Endeavor has promised to include a thumbnail feature in the next release.

4. Other metadata systems, such as Dublin Core, RDF, XML, etc. are more flexible for retrieving info through Web. That's why most sites use non-MARC based database retrieval package for their image databases.

Hope this will help.

Allison Zhang Project Coordinator Connecticut History Online Tel: 860-236-5621 ex. 272 Fax: 860-236-2664 Email: mailto:allison_zhang@chs.org

----- Original Message ----- From: "McFarland, Anne" <mailto:amcfarland@BASEBALLHALLOFFAME.ORG> To: <mailto:IMAGELIB@LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU> Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2000 9:35 AM Subject: Separate Databases and a question about Wam!Net

> I am wondering if anyone has used their library catalog as their
descriptive
> metadata storage database with links to their images through the 856?
Most
> of the sites seem to be using a separate image database retrieval package
> and I am wondering why.
>
> Also, is anyone familiar with Wam!Net?
>
> Thank you for your assistance,
> Anne
>
> Anne L. McFarland
> Director of Technical Services
> National Baseball Hall of Fame Library
> 25 Main Street
> Cooperstown, NY 13326
>
> (v) 607.547.0350
> (f) 607.547.4094
>

</pre>



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