Progress towards a trouble-free knowledge base supply chain Charlie Rapple KBART co-chair UKSG, March 2009

Problems in the supply chain  Wrong data –Publisher gives wrong metadata for title to knowledge base –Link resolver uses bad metadata to make link –Link does not resolve to correct target –Dead end 

 Outdated data –Publisher tells knowledge base it has a particular issue –Link resolver links to an article from it –Issue has been removed –Dead end  –Or, provider doesn’t notify that issue is now live –So no traffic from link resolvers to that issue! Problems in the supply chain That’s not good!

And when the supply chain breaks …  Researchers will go to …

 Knowledge Bases And Related Tools  UKSG and NISO collaborative project  To improve navigation of the e-resource supply chain by  Ensuring timely transfer of accurate data to knowledge bases, ERMs etc. Right. So. What is KBART?

Guidelines Education Information hub What is KBart’s mission?

How are you doing it? Terminology Problems ✐ Solutions  Advocacy

Terminology link resolver link-to syntax aggregatorappropriate copy content provider DOI embargo ERM federated search gateway knowledge base localisation metadata OPAC Open Access OpenURL SFX source target

Problems Knowledge bases Date coverage Title relations Licensing Data & transfer Supply chain Compliance accuracy format vol/issue vs date date granularity (day, month, season, year) title changes title mapping abbreviations ISSN/ISBN variations re-use of ISSN effect on licensing genericism /granularit y misrepresentation package variations accuracy free content format ownership contacts/feedback mechanisms incentive informal structure unclear responsibilities duplication of effort file format format definitions; shoe-horning age of data accuracy frequency link syntax and granularity

Recommendations  Phase I – encompasses the more fundamental recommendations from original research: –File format –Mandatory and optional fields –Common approaches for presenting data within fields –Handling of packages –Frequency of data update –Collection mechanism

Testing  Volunteer stakeholders  Checking that what we believe will work in theory does actually work (and make a difference) in practice

Benefits  More accurate metadata means reduced effort and cost of data cleaning for libraries and link resolver vendors  Increased, trouble-free access to critical research content means –More traffic to journals – better ROI for libraries, better usage for publishers, maximum reach for authors and editors –Happier customers – lower customer service and PPV costs for libraries, improved reputation and better chance of renewals for publishers

Related activity  OCLC – maintenance agency –fitting KBART’s role around OCLC’s responsibilities  CrossRef – publisher cooperative –metadata collection and distribution services

Going public  Final phase I report –Review by monitoring group and sponsoring committees in April –Revisions based on feedback –Public release in June

Phase II  Change of leadership and likely some team members –Localised holdings transfer? –Greater automation? –Requirements for a centralised solution (how to fund, how to manage etc)? –Non-text materials? –Increased focus on subscription agents' role?

Learn more  NISO webinar, 8 th April   Charlie Rapple (UKSG co-chair)  Peter McCracken (NISO co-chair)