This report provides project description information in sufficient detail to support the assumptions and conclusions as provided in this preliminary hazard classification. While the metadata for the pilot is currently derived from OSTI's database of bibliographic information, other metadata schemes are being investigated including the Dublin Core. In fact, OSTI is evaluating the Dublin Core as an alternative to it's current metadata scheme that includes 160, or more, data elements. The user search interface provides the user flexibility and speed in using sophisticated search techniques to rapidly narrow a query to find information rapidly and accurately. The search interface also provides the user the option to search upon subject, title, author, institution and report number.
Boolean combinations are available as well.
The retrieval results provide ranking and relevancy, as well as the title and author. Challenges Federated Collections is the first, in a series of steps, toward building consensus on the technical and organizational requirements for future iterations of an increasingly sophisticated system of distributed and shared scientific and technical information repositories. The challenges are many and, not surprising, the least daunting of those challenges reside in the technical arena. With the right organizational support, processes, participants and technologies, Federated collections will grow to be a robust foundation for future expansion that will enable users within the Department to access STI collections where ever they may reside. PURL - or equivalent system to address the need to manage the problem of drifting URLs.