Fogler Library, University of Maine - Library newsletter for faculty

FOGLER LIBRARY NEWS SERVICE
Publicizing events, collections, acquisitions and services at UMaine's library
-- Wednesday, March 29, 2006--

SUMMARY
1. Events
    A. Van Reid and the Moosepath League
      B. Wes McNair, Author of The Ghosts of You and Me
      C. Edith Patch Cookbook Dinner
1.  Research and Development Projects
      A. Grant Awarded For Building A Commons Of Geographic Data
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1.   EVENTS
A. VAN REID AND THE MOOSEPATH LEAGUE
On Tuesday, 11 April, 3 pm, in Special Collections, third floor, Fogler Library you will have an opportunity to meet Van Reid, popular author of the series of novels set in Maine and featuring the Moosepath League, Cordelia Underwood, and a large cast of characters. Reid will talk about and read from his work. The University Bookstore will be on hand, so here's your chance to get an autographed copy.

B. WES MCNAIR , Award Winning Poet
On Thursday, 20 April, 3 p.m. in Special Collections, third floor Fogler Library, Wes McNair, award winning poet, will visit Fogler Library to talk about his work. Copies of the book will on sale at the event. Co-sponsored with the University Bookstore.

C. EDITH PATCH COOKBOOK DINNER
On Sunday, 23 April, 5-7 p.m. in the University Club, second floor Fogler Library a very special evening with food prepared from recipes in the Edith Patch Cookbook will take place. Cost is $20 per person. Please RSVP Gretchen Gfeller 207-581-1696 gretchen.gfeller@umit.maine.edu by 14 April if you plan to attend.

2.   RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS
     A. GRANT AWARDED FOR BUILDING A COMMONS OF GEOGRAPHIC DATA
The Institute of Museum and Library Service has awarded UMaine a one year grant to research the infrastructure requirements for building a Commons of Geographic Data. Researchers in many disciplines need the widest possible access to data from all sources to explore, experiment, test, and evaluate theories; and, ultimately, to increase understanding of our world. Fortunately, there are many initiatives underway to make governmental and commercial spatial information accessible.

This project, a collaborative effort between the Department of Spatial Information Science and Engineering and Fogler Library, is focused on spatially-related data in the significant body of "invisible" non-textual geographic data that exists on local hard drives of researchers, schools, non-profits, associations, small companies, and other non-governmental organizations, will explore four key questions, i.e. how can we:

* Address and automate intellectual rights and licensing management similar to that used by the Creative Commons so conditions for use are simple for the contributor of the data to specify, and easily discoverable by users of the data?

* Address and semi-automate metadata generation by non-specialist contributors so that it is simple to create standards based metadata for data contributed and based on discipline taxonomies and ontologies?

*   Address version management and linkage maintenance (provenance) issues so contributors will always be credited are credited for data contributed and users will always be able to identify sources of data even through generations of reuse?

* Provide users with simple tools of knowledge organization to evaluate usefulness of the data contributed by others, and to retrieve the data evaluations of others?

A project team, necessary equipment, and workspace have been assembled. A content management system on the web, which will serve as a record of the research and provide a portal for those interested in our work, is in progress. Senior investigators include: Professors Harlan Onsrud and Silvia Nittel, and Marilyn Lutz, Director of Technology Planning at Fogler Library. The project team includes Kenton Williams, Project Manager, and graduate students James Campbell and David McCurry.   For more information: http://geodatacommons.umaine.edu/

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Distributed by the Fogler Library, The University of Maine, Orono, Maine.
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Gretchen Gfeller 207-581-1696 gretchen.gfeller@umit.maine.edu or Frank
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