Use Case Description
Activity – Aggregation of content from a set of libraries (sets could be based on discipline, geography or collaboration) allows libraries to check holdings across a wide range of libraries to inform retention and purchase decisions.
Actors – Libraries (while a similar use case might apply in other areas, libraries perhaps stand to gain the most due to the non-uniqueness of the majority of their content)
Aggregators
Book suppliers
National Collections and/or Deposit libraries (e.g. British Library)
Data involved – Metadata describing resources held by libraries, including details of specific items and number of copies
Workflows – Using the aggregation, a library can look up resources that they are considering disposing of, moving to store, or purchasing, and discover if the material is held by other libraries (based on geographic, subject or consortial divisions)
It would be possible to lookup single items or multiple items via a machine interface (e.g. upload a set of ISBNs, or an API to search the aggregation)
Outside libraries it may be possible that a similar mechanism might be used to establish specialist collections similar to the material in question (e.g. for an archive) so that gifted material or material for disposal could be offered to the most suitable collection.
Current Examples – GIST – a tool which checks WorldCat to help inform retention decisions on gifts to the library
UKRR database – lists serial holdings across UKRR members (not currently public)
Benefits – What is the business case?
Data owner – Ability to make informed decisions regarding purchase and retention. Effective use of resources across multiple institutions providing value for money to the sector
End Users – Unique/rare materials will remain available within cooperating organisations
Aggregators – Aggregator gains use from institutions which could potentially be monetized (e.g. via subscription) and may create other opportunities (e.g. clearing house for document delivery requests)
