CORDIS Archive

Telematics for Libraries - Projects

TECUP

Updated: 22 NOV 99

Additional information is available from the ILIERS Web site (http://www.sub.uni-goettingen.de/gdz/tecup/).

Action Line

Action line B: Telematics applications for interconnected library services

Call Topic(s)

Call Topic 7 bis: Models for distributed digital libraries and associated services

Project description

TECUP aims to analyse, define and evaluate a wide range of practical mechanisms for access to electronic information based on the results of the ECUP framework discussion, which takes account of the needs of users, providers and rights owners. By evaluating different business models in different contexts, a better understanding of the practical requirements of licensing for electronic material can be gained. TECUP is a cluster project that integrates results and data from several projects in the field of electronic library services for users.

Technical approach

TECUP builds on the work of the ECUP and ECUP+ Concerted Actions, which identified that the specifications for a licensing framework for the use of electronic material needed further elaboration, through practical experience. TECUP will examine:

Models and current practice will be analysed for: n retrospective digitisation of printed documents by libraries and their distribution; n access to digital materials and their distribution; n management of copyrights and licensing requirements

Methodology will be defined by TECUP, the adaptation and the implementation will be carried out in close co-operation between TECUP and related projects as DECOMATE II and DIEPER , whose results will be fed back to TECUP for analysis on individual project basis and for an overall picture.

Business models will be tested (pay-per-use, flat fee, direct licensing, corporate licensing, etc.) in related projects, covering a number of European states, representing all categories of libraries (public, academic, national and corporate) and involving many different kinds of user. Based on existing technologies derived from other projects, the demonstrator will show the applicability of the scheme outlined in the ECUP recommendations.

Work will be monitored by three international advisory groups (strategic, technical and legal), comprising representatives of publishers, trade associations, authors' organisations, collecting societies, subscription agents, library association, lawyers, other EU projects and technicians.

Collaboration will be maintained with EFILA to ensure broad compatibility with developing standards and profiles and with the EDItEUR initiative for information on EDI/EDIFACT standards within the publishing and related industries

Key issues

The main issues involved are:

• Development and application of new business models, where users can access electronic documents independent of location and time.
• Creating balanced contractual models for optimised application of the new technologies without infringing copyright.
• Bringing a maximum of information to the end-user in a fast and cost-efficient way at the same time enhancing certainty in the day-to-day handling of electronic material by the library staff.

Impact

The project plays an important role in exposing a wider public to questions on licensing and marketing standards. TECUP brings the different players together and enhances realistic collaboration between them, as a testbed for workable solutions. The resulting economic models can be exploited by European electronic library services, leading to a better understanding of the practical requirements of licensing for electronic material.

Deliverables

The main public deliverables will be:

• Survey of rights related to digitised journals
• General report on licensing issues
• Survey of current methodology in image capturing
• Annual and Final Project reports

Coordinator

Other Partners