Bridget Robinson - lisbrr@ukoln.ac.uk
Welcome to the Agora news bulletin for October.
Library Associates - Case Studies
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The case studies at Heriot-Watt University, University of Hull, UKOLN and Bath Spa University College are now complete. Most of the final writing up has been done and the studies are being edited to form a complete study report for submission to the board.
UEA have encountered some technical difficulties, but as a result, have been able to use Agora Release 2 for their case study on interlending. The case study will be ending shortly and it is expected that a report will be available by early November.
The Project has approached the existing Library Associates to assess their interest in a possible extension of the Project into the New Year. This would take the form of additional case studies to be performed in the period January - March 2001.
A decision on the extension and participation will be made within the next month
Release 2
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A meeting was held in London on 16th October. Neil Smith from Fretwell Downing demonstrated Agora Release 2 to a group of Board members and Library Associates. This meeting provoked some interesting discussion and provided the opportunity to learn more about some of the case study feedback. This feedback is essential to the ongoing development of the hybrid library concept.
David Palmer and Bridget Robinson will be attending a 2-day training session on 25th-26th October at Fretwell-Downing's Training Facility in Sheffield. This will concentrate on the Admin Client software for Agora Release 2. Once the training is completed David will be able to finalise the compliance testing report.
Dissemination
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The Service Providers project briefing will be held in London on 20th October.
It will provide a useful forum to disseminate information about the Agora project and to highlight and discuss some of the ongoing technical issues that have arisen. The agenda includes a demonstration of Agora followed by time for discussion of a range of related issues including protocol implementation, copyright, branding, the use of collection level descriptions and the configuration of Z39.50 clients.
The second dissemination event will take place on 1st November at the British Library.
All the 5 hybrid library projects will be participating, plus contributions from Lynne Brindley from the BL and Stephen Pinfield from the DNER. Interest in the event has far exceeded expectations. It is hoped that a repeat event can be organised.
Philip Hunter, the editor of Ariadne, has offered the Hybrid Library projects an opportunity to write up their presentations from this event in a special issue of Ariadne. The article will be reflective in nature, concentrating on the lessons coming out of the projects, rather than simply detailed reports of progress so far.
Board Meeting
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The next Agora board meeting will be held in London on 9th November.