CORDIS Archive

Telematics for Libraries - Projects

ELISE II

Updated: 22 NOV 99

Additional information is available on the ELISE web site . (http://severn.dmu.ac.uk/elise/)

Action Line

Action line B: Telematics applications for interconnected library services

Call Topic(s)

Call topic 4: Creating and testing interconnected library services, integrating applications for at least two different library service functions.

Project description

ELISE II develops and demonstrates an operational image retrieval service based on a heterogeneous set of networked image banks located in several Member States of the Union. This service is extensible and includes a model for protection of rights, fair pricing for educational and cultural use, and mechanisms for charging.

Technical approach

ELISE II is based on previous achievements of the FP3 ELISE project where a prototype of the envisaged system was developed, proving the feasibility of the fully-fledged service proposed for implementation under ELISE II. The project is developed in two Phases of 18 months each, as follows:

• Phase 1 - A large scale demonstrator was developed based on the ELISE prototype, comprising a network of interconnected libraries and related organisations by which distributed image banks in the member organisations can be accessed using standard search and retrieve protocols.
  • Both Z39.50/SR and HTTP access are catered for.
  • The network provides security control against unauthorised access where required and charging mechanisms for re-trieval of images when authorised.
• Phase 2 - The demonstrator will be operated and the results achieved will be monitored and reported.

A working system was available early within the project and has been fine tuned throughout it, resulting in excellent performance in accessing images from the created databanks.

Key issues

The main technical and policy issues include:

• Establishing an operational electronic image retrieval service in Europe;
• Designing the service in such a way as to be replicable or hospitable to the addition of further image banks throughout Europe;
• Implementing an influential model for the protection of rights, fair pricing for educational and cultural use, and mechanisms for charging;
• Developing access initially to seven collections of images in EU Member States;
• Developing mechanisms which will facilitate the development of spin-off products, including learning materials.

Impact

The main impact of the project, following on from the successful FP3 ELISE project, has been in:

• Promotion of standard protocols and exchange formats;
• Interconnection and resource sharing between libraries;
• Promotion of European approaches to product development in the image bank and electronic library domains;
• Putting a variety of image banks within reach of European citizens in several EU countries;
• Integration of electronic publishing and electronic library management;
• Setting examples for other developers of digital Library products.

Deliverables

A working system was available early within the project and has been fine tuned throughout it, resulting in excellent performance in accessing images from the created databanks.
Some design specifications and project documents are restricted issue, but the publicly available documents include:

• Requirements specifications for the image base and textual material
• Formal project standards m Performance standards and measurement criteria
• GUI user requirements, product reviews and workstation software
• Windows test criteria
• Pilot system performance report
• Annual and Final project reports.

Documentation can be obtained from the contact below and from the Web at: ELISE web site .

Coordinator

Other Partners

• Image capture and conversion;