Web Scale Aggregations was Re: [DigitalNZ] Try something new - sign up for the Commercial Use API Pilot
Paul Sutherland
This is great to try to see how data in Digital NZ can flow into Web Scale aggregations
But I wonder if this should be re framed as two different goals.
1. One to allow data to be reused in commercial Apps - an API thing - that allows commercial reuse and acceptance and extension of other existing licences - the challenge of accepting existing licenses and working out how to deal with that - something the wikimedia community struggles with...
2. The other to allow Data to be reused by aggregators such as Ex Libris, Ebsco, OCLC and Serials Solutions. Downloaded sets of data -this should be described as tools - not the overused API word.
These are surely two different models - two different worlds.
The commercial App stuff is a whole different place from getting New Zealand aggregated data into discovery tools - in libraries and research institutions.in New Zealand and beyond. These tools normally work by taking big chunks of data - as dumps in a known structure - be it MARC. OAI-PMH etc
I wonder- how does this align with the National Library moves to release other New Zealand Data sets like Publications New Zealand, Index New Zealand, FindNZArticles etc. under the NZGOAL principles
I imagine these would use something like Open Data Commons Attribution License (ODC-BY) (as touted by OCLC) or CC0 Public Domain Dedication (as used by the British Library, Europeana and Harvard). Or something similar
I realise this is a complex issue - with many strands and I am surprised that i have not seen this discussion of how to get our data into webscale aggregations and visible on the global stage on a New Zealand Library list. I am surprised that the NLNZ and ArchivesNZ are not also players. (yet)
I also wonder what the role of OAI-PMH is - previously KRIS data was available as OAI sets but when it was ported to being powered by Digital New Zealand that seemed to vanish. Should there not be some tools to extract sets using the OAI-PMH vocab (as well as the DNZAPI
Anyway I am copying my rant to the NZ-libs list - maybe some librarians will have some views on how to get our datasets into big aggregations. How we may consider licensing or partnering with the webscale aggregators.
And other issues...
/paul
Kia ora DigitalNZ API Developers,
We are currently working on a Commercial Use API Pilot and we'd love your feedback on the draft terms of use.
The pilot will be a new API that will make some participating content partners' metadata available for use in commercial endeavours. This means that you would be able to use the API to make apps that can be sold in the app stores. It also means that the metadata can be included in library subscription services (such as Primo, Summon and EBSCO Discovery Services). There may also be other commercial uses that we just haven't thought of yet.
Three organisations have signed up for the pilot, University of Auckland, NZ Electronic Text Collection and the Ministry of Culture and Heritage. We'd love to have a few more content partners joining them, so we're doing a bit more of a push at the moment to get more on board.
I've attached the draft Commercial Use Developers' API Terms. We are keen for feedback on them. Are they workable for you? We know there's a couple of areas that need tweaking, but we're interested in hearing what you think so we can ensure we've got everything covered.
*Are you going to the National Digital Forum? Come see us*
The DigitalNZ Team will again be at the National Digital Forum ( http://www.ndf.org.nz ). We'll have a stand, so do come and visit. But also we’d love to see you all for breakfast on Day 2, (7.45 – 8.50am, Wed, 21 Nov). We’ll give you an update on what we’ve been up to and what we’d like to do next. We also want to hear what you think we should be doing! We need to gather up RSVPs so we can make sure there is enough coffee, juice, bagels and pastries for you all. So if you can make it please RSVP here:http://digitalnz.wufoo.com/forms/digitalnz-breakfast-at-ndf/
Chris McDowall
Andy Neale
Hi Paul,
Thanks for this… some good questions. A couple of quick points which may help any discussion:
Firstly, we see this licensing option as a stepping stone. We haven't suggested a traditional creative commons licence because pilot partners wanted the option of requiring data users to refresh the metadata on request. CC licences are irrevocable, and don't provide that option. The approach we are piloting means that partners can help us set requirements, can opt in to share their metadata commercially via their DigitalNZ agreement, and then opt out again later if they change their mind. We see it as a safe option that people can try. I certainly would still encourage organisations to think about permanently licensing data for commercial reuse… but we recognise that everyone will have different views on this. We didn't want to force people to adopt CC or ODC unnecessarily if they weren't ready… and this allows us to support both those who want try this out (through a DigitalNZ agreement) or make a permanent release of their metadata (through licensing something on their own).
Secondly, you are totally right in saying that the large aggregation services may want big chunks of data, as opposed to just API access. The licensing agreement above will apply to the data, regardless of the delivery mechanism. We plan to roll out the API version first because we already have that in play, but the intention is to also develop a large data download feature that would better fit other needs. Possibly enabling OAI-PMH as a delivery mechanism, but we still have to figure this out. Keep in mind also that our defacto standard is Dublin Core because the DigitalNZ material comes not just from libraries but museums, websites, and all manner of non-standardised environments.
I think it is fair to say we have some way to go before figuring this all out. This small scale pilot should help us learn about what works and what doesn't. I'd certainly encourage others to get involved in the pilot if they want to know more, or help us figure this out. Behind this is the idea that we can encourage more use of NZ collections by letting commercial entities use the metadata… and that is also something we are trying to test here.
Cheers,
Andy
Manager, DigitalNZ
National Library of New Zealand
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