diglib: ArtStor and Local Content

["Faye A Chadwell" <chadwelf@uoregon.edu>]

Hello DigLibbers:

With some help from Cara List, we are finishing up the ArtStor contract.  One of the major differences between the trial agreement and the subscription agreement is the inclusion of a section called "Local Content."  I have a call to the sales rep about what all is involved and have spoken to Ed Teague about this as well.  As I understand it, we could use our local content in the same way we would use ArtStor's content.  Obviously we and ArtStor couldn't infringe on a third party's rights.  The prospect of searching across our local content as well as ArtStor is intriguing and could yield powerful results for our users.   PLEASE NOTE: The agreement we are signing is not obligating us to do anything at this time.  If nothing else, making use of this possibility would be a recognition that we can't do everything locally.

Ed mentioned that ArtStor is working with several libraries on this initiative.  After looking at their website again, I found reference to this section in the Chairman's June 2005 letter to ArtStor subscribers:

"We will define - along with colleagues from the University of Virginia, Princeton University, James Madison University, Tufts, and the Open Knowledge Institute (OKI) - standard protocols that will allow ARTstor users to search local repositories from within ARTstor, and facilitate the discovery of ARTstor content by using other search engines."

This project may have a role in adding local content, but we will have to see.   Anyway, Ed is going to talk to the rep at ARLIS about this issue and others.  I will see what I can glean from the rep when she returns my call.  I will pass along the pertinent information I uncover.

Faye