OCKHAM: Fostering DL Interoperability through Reference Models and Lightweight Protocol Networks Martin Halbert Emory University Director for Library Systems Indo-US Workshop on Open Digital Libraries and Interoperability Monday, June 23, 2003 Washington, D.C.

6/23/03OCKHAM Presentation2 Summary What is OCKHAM? What is OCKHAM? DL Coordination Trends Examined DL Coordination Trends Examined Intersection of Reference Models & Lightweight Protocols Intersection of Reference Models & Lightweight Protocols OCKHAM Process OCKHAM Process Proposed Experiments Proposed Experiments

6/23/03OCKHAM Presentation3 What is OCKHAM? A working group sponsored by the Digital Library Federation of CLIR to seek: A working group sponsored by the Digital Library Federation of CLIR to seek: –Generalizable and practical solutions for collaborative digital library development –An architecture or framework within which such solutions can be implemented, shared, and discussed Acronym: Open Components-Based Knowledge Hypermedia Administration Management. Intentional allusion to William of Ockham

6/23/03OCKHAM Presentation4 OCKHAM Participants Librarians (incl Emory, Arizona, Notre Dame, Windsor, California Digital Library, etc.) Librarians (incl Emory, Arizona, Notre Dame, Windsor, California Digital Library, etc.) DL Researchers (incl Virginia Tech) DL Researchers (incl Virginia Tech) Vendors (incl OCLC) Vendors (incl OCLC) DLF Director DLF Director

6/23/03OCKHAM Presentation5 Major Issues The problem is not a lack of good DL architectures (already too many!) The problem is not a lack of good DL architectures (already too many!) Nor a search for the uber-archictecture (forget that!) Nor a search for the uber-archictecture (forget that!) The need is for better strategies to undertake collaborative development bridging DL projects The need is for better strategies to undertake collaborative development bridging DL projects OCKHAM is as much about collaborative process as DL architectures OCKHAM is as much about collaborative process as DL architectures

6/23/03OCKHAM Presentation6 Typical DL Architecture LOTR Slave 3 Slave 1 Slave 2

6/23/03OCKHAM Presentation7 Peer-to-Peer Frameworks are needed for the future

6/23/03OCKHAM Presentation8 Effective DL Collaboration Strategies Reference Models (examples of CCSDS OAIS, UKOLN DNER) Reference Models (examples of CCSDS OAIS, UKOLN DNER) Lightweight Protocols (examples of Open Archives Initiative PMH, LDAP, others) Lightweight Protocols (examples of Open Archives Initiative PMH, LDAP, others) (Assumed) good project management processes (articulated by PMI) (Assumed) good project management processes (articulated by PMI)

6/23/03OCKHAM Presentation9 Benefits of having a Reference Model Technical recommendation for use in developing a broader consensus on what is required for collaboration Technical recommendation for use in developing a broader consensus on what is required for collaboration Establishes a common framework of terms, concepts, and entities Establishes a common framework of terms, concepts, and entities Does not provide implementation specifications, just gets the group to a point of effective discussion quickly Does not provide implementation specifications, just gets the group to a point of effective discussion quickly

6/23/03OCKHAM Presentation10 OAIS Architecture (Overview)

6/23/03OCKHAM Presentation11 Benefits of Lightweight Protocols Quicker to implement than full- featured interoperability protocols Quicker to implement than full- featured interoperability protocols Imply the pre-existence of a reference model guiding the specification Imply the pre-existence of a reference model guiding the specification Usually modular and minimal in scope Usually modular and minimal in scope Most successful recent example is the Open Archives Initiative Protocol for Metadata Harvesting (OAI-PMH) Most successful recent example is the Open Archives Initiative Protocol for Metadata Harvesting (OAI-PMH)

6/23/03OCKHAM Presentation12 Generalizable OCKHAM Process 1. Identify the DL Community and the Need (Opportunity to be realized) 2. Develop Reference Model(s) to coordinate discussions 3. Identify lightweight protocols (preferably pre-existing) to implement the Ref Models 4. Iteratively refine development targets

6/23/03OCKHAM Presentation13 Next Steps Potential experiments with OCKHAM Process Potential experiments with OCKHAM Process –AmericanSouth.Org –NSDL OCKHAM Library Network –(Possible) DLF DODL

6/23/03OCKHAM Presentation14 AmericanSouth.Org Now AmericanSouth.Org Currently a classic centralized OAI metadata harvesting infrastructure

6/23/03OCKHAM Presentation15 AmericanSouth.Org II Fostering OAI Connections AmericanSouth.Org Alabama Cornerstone Project Kentucky Virtual Library UNC Chapel Hill DL Florida Lib Autom Center

6/23/03OCKHAM Presentation16 NSDL OCKHAM Library Network Mediates NSDL Mediates NSDL and traditional libraries and traditional libraries Provides a set of services to participant libraries to deploy NSDL content and services Provides a set of services to participant libraries to deploy NSDL content and services NSDL

6/23/03OCKHAM Presentation17 DLF Distributed Open Digital Library (DODL) New project just proposed by DLF Steering Committee, scope of project still under discussion New project just proposed by DLF Steering Committee, scope of project still under discussion Intended to provide capability for researchers to manipulate DL objects held by member libraries in multiple ways Intended to provide capability for researchers to manipulate DL objects held by member libraries in multiple ways

6/23/03OCKHAM Presentation18 Conclusion OCKHAM is an effort to foster improved DL interoperability through combination of best practices for process and standards OCKHAM is an effort to foster improved DL interoperability through combination of best practices for process and standards One attempt to bridge DL communities (among many) One attempt to bridge DL communities (among many)