[open-bibliography] introduction

Wed Jun 30 09:20:13 BST 2010

Jonathan Gray wrote:
> [...] Any evidence or arguments about why Europeana should make the
> bibliographic metadata *open* (as in opendefinition.org) would be very
> much appreciated! In particular I understand that many libraries
> currently want to release with NC restrictions.

First of all: hello from me.  I'm interested in Open Bibliographic
Data because I'm a member of a tech worker co-op that provides
computer-related services to libraries and other clients around the
world, including open standards-based EDIFACT and RFID support.  I'm a
bit worried by the actions of the largest library co-op, OCLC, and I'd
like Open Bibliographic Data to succeed and become its own compelling
argument for OCLC to switch.  OCLC has big databases, but it may be
possible to persuade OCLC members to open it up.

Now, to that question: in the UK, refusing to permit commercial use
would make ordinary life pretty difficult.  Many libraries have
commercial suppliers involved and with cross-party commitments to
increase involvement of cooperatives in public services, that will
only increase: cooperatives may be good for-more-than-profit companies
(rather than for-profit), but they are still commercial.  What would
it mean for metadata to be NC-restricted?  Could library co-ops not
use it in the course of their work?  Would it become toxic data?

Of course, most NC restrictions are scarily ill-defined and some argue
that some allow some commercial use, but cooperatives aim to be around
forever, so usually take a pretty cautious view of risk (which is one
reason why the Co-operative Bank, Rabobank, the various mutual savings
banks, Building Societies, Credit Unions and other co-ops were among
the least harmed by toxic debt).

I'm not sure how general the co-op argument is, but I think with 2012
being the UN International Year of Co-operatives, it might be pretty
general.

Hope that helps,
-- 
MJ Ray (slef)  Webmaster and LMS developer at     | software
www.software.coop http://mjr.towers.org.uk        |  .... co
IMO only: see http://mjr.towers.org.uk/email.html |  .... op