CORDIS Archive

Updated 22 NOV 99

Action Line

Action line B: Telematics applications for interconnected library services.

Call Topic(s)

Call topic 7: Development of new scenarios and models for distributed libraries and associated services to users, in preparation for potential implementation projects.

Project description

ELITE developed a generic model for distributed library services for users, including a detailed assessment of economic, organisational, managerial and technical options. ELITE synthesised the results of this analysis and developed a prototype leading to a validation phase of viable operational models for distributed library services.

Technical approach

The project analysed different options for distributed library services, to prepare for a second phase where the preferred and validated model could be implemented. The project performed the following tasks:

• Defined, in a first step, the methodology to be used in investigating the different options mentioned above.
• Examined at a European scale the economic, organisational and technical issues and reported these studies to the libraries community through public workshops.
• Synthesised the results and developed a prototype leading to a validation phase of viable operational models for distributed library services.
• Prepared a realistic implementation project, whose feasibility could be studied by the development of prototypes. A scheduled Phase 2 of the project, to develop the prototype, did not take place.

Key issues

Prior document delivery projects launched under national initiatives, or with the support of the EU Telematics for Libraries programme (eg EDIL , ION , FASTDOC ), experimented with introducing new technologies in the libraries environment. Following this phase of determining technical suitability, the challenge became one of meeting users' new requirements in building services which:

• Integrate all the functions of infor-mation access (searching, ordering, delivery, billing, etc.).
• Deal with economic, administrative and legal aspects of information dissemination.
• Take into account the special requirements of each user category.

Impact

The project analysed key issues for all implementors of document delivery systems. It delivered a number of reports documenting the work: Market analysis and Service contracts, Organisational aspects, Technical choices, as well as the specification for the model that could be implemented in a second phase at some future time.

Even though the implementation phase for the ELITE model was not engaged, the project identified significant issues and key factors in the service sector which need addressing in order that distributed digital brary services can be successfully implemented.

Deliverables

Major public deliverables from ELITE included:

• Workshops on Copyright and Modelling
• ELITE Requirements report
• ELITE Service Model report
• Synthesis report, covering methodology, business case, organisational aspects and technical choices
• Description of an implementation project
• Final project report

Coordinator

Other Partners