University Library Scholarly Publishing Office, Mideyear report on Goals, FY 2000-01

At the mid-year point in its first year, SPO has moved ahead on several of its goals. Its successes seem especially marked considering that the staffing picture is still not complete. Our focus has been on the development of tools and methods, with development work going on using Quark and Quark Avenue, Logictran's rtf2xml converter and Cocoon.We have also worked on assembling a body of content and now have working agreements with several journals and are in discussions with several more. Work for the ACLS History eBook project has also begun, with some test files received and experimentation with delivery underway. The books for the History eBook backfile will be arriving shortly. Although some work has been done in promoting our services and capabilities on campus, we have fallen behind in this area; work on information materials and the web site is going on now. We have also fallen a bit behind in planning further development of our management systems -- partly because of not having a formal programmer in place and partly because there has not yet been a real demand for these services. This work will also take priority in the months ahead. Activities scheduled for the remainder of the year include beginning work on specifications for a peer review mechanism and development work on statistics and on charging mechanisms.

1 Program building

1.1 Build understanding of the needs and concerns of campus publishers by conducting an environmental study, including

Compile list of scholarly publishers on Campus (including content, frequency of publication, etc.)
Contact editors- introduce ourselves, get information from editors on their current tools, processes, their interests in e-publishing, their needs in this area, their concerns -- perhaps a formal survey?
Analysis and summary of survey information

	Timeline:	October-March
	Responsibility:	Rosenblum with assistance of hourly worker, and input from Bonn
	Status:	Have compiled list of about 55 publishers. Survey has been sent out to Humanities journal editors. Now awaiting responses.

1.2 Work with OVPR/Rackham to promote moving subsidized journals to electronic publication

	Timeline:	Ongoing
	Responsibility:	Bonn
	Status:	Although no specific activity has gone on in this area, there is a meeting scheduled with Earl Lewis, Dean of Rackham to discuss the publishing initiative.

1.3 Possible meeting of university libraries engaged in publishing efforts in their first two years of operation with no more than 5 FTE to talk about sharing tools, information, purpose.

	Timeline:	To be determined. Possible first meeting at midwinter ALA.
	Responsibility:	Bonn
	Status:	DLF has agreed to sponsor meeting. We are currently deciding on the invitees and a date.

1.4 Bring in or visit with staff of Highwire and Project Muse in order to learn from their experience and understand their aims.

	Timeline:	To be determined. Possibly in conjunction with All things Digital. Aim for a speaker by March.
	Responsibility:	Bonn
	Status:	No activity in this area, but staff did attend talk by Highwire representative at Rackham event on digital publishing.

1.5 Communicate with and educate library staff about purpose of SPO and its services

develop website (in tandem with development of DLI site)
brochure and paper information (December)
hold information meetings with library staff (reference staff, collection development staff, PR dept, Health Services, Media Union esp librarians or departments who might have more contact with faculty.) February-March

	Timeline:	Ongoing with milestones as noted
	Responsibility:	All staff, coordinated by Bonn
	Status:	Web site and brochure are currently in development, slated to conclude in mid-March. Bonn has met with Wanda Monroe to discuss PR possibilities. Bonn has also met with Senior Managers and with Special Collections to discuss the publishing initiative.

1.6 Analysis and education of staff about issues like copyright, authentication & access, and other issues that editors are likely to ask about (as determined though conversations and environmental study)

	Timeline:	Ongoing
	Responsibility:	All staff, coordinated by Bonn
	Status:	Staff members have attended sessions in the Elcectonic Humanist series sponsered by the Institute for the Humanities, the SI Copyright symposium and talks sponsered by Rackham on publishing.

2 Content building

2.1 Communicate with and educate faculty, particularly faculty editors, about purpose of SPO and its services.

announce our services
set up meetings with editors
create demonstration, showing examples of current publications (MQR, Phil Imp, TMR) and services
set up mailing list for editors to announce new services or make general announcements
develop training materials on using software needed/stylesheets, etc.

	Timeline:	Ongoing
	Responsibility:	Rosenblum, Bonn
	Status:	Bonn talked to about 20 Humanities journal editors at a session sponsored by the Institute for the Humanities. Much work remains to be done in getting the word out on campus about SPO's mission and services.

2.2 Support for the Philosopher's Imprint

2.2.1 Create Web environment , searchable text and desired display

Get feedback on Word Style Sheets
Finalize Quark.dtd
Build mapping script to transform content to textclass.dtd
Transform Dear Self to textclass.dtd
Develop web template

	Timeline:	by end of November
	Responsibility:	Rosenblum, Programmer
	Status:	This is essentially done, although some changes have been made in the process -- i.e. using a stand-alone script rather than textclass and no longer using Quark.

2.2.2 Provide continuing data transformation support

Copy editing: formatting/checking layout of text in Word template
Data transformation
Template management
Get feedback on and modify if necessary templates and quark.dtd as necessary

	Timeline:	Ongoing
	Responsibility:	Rosenblum, Interface Specialist, Programmer as needed
	Status:	Routines are now in place and will be tested when the second PI article arrives in March.

2.3 Support for The Medieval Review

Move TMR from mail robot submission to journal management system
Facilitate moving TMR to text class to resolve outstanding issues about URLs and tag set.

	Timeline:	by end of November
	Responsibility:	Rosenblum
	Status:	Most of this has been done. A few final adjustments need to be made -- awaiting programming time from DLPS.

2.4 Support for the Michigan Quarterly Review

2.4.1 Develop online system for current publication

Train staff on SPO tools and methods necessary for online publication
Explore methods for digitizing artwork
Establish relationship with Sans Serif to minimize duplicative effort
Develop web environment

	Timeline:	September-February, first issue online June
	Responsibility:	Rosenblum, Interface Specialist
	Status:	All in process

2.4.2 Digitize backfile

Obtain and convert available electronic files and implement in online system (October-December)
Locate funding for conversion of print files (November-December)
Plan and schedule imaging and OCR of backfile

	Timeline:	Milestones as noted. Backfile conversion complete by end of year.
	Responsibility:	Conversion of existing electronic files coordinated by Rosenblum, other conversion activities coordinated by Bonn.
	Status:	Backfiles have been scanned and are now in QC. Existing electronic files are nearly completely encoded in XML and will go online in March.

2.5 Work on publication opportunities with Slavic Department

2.5.1 Digitize and put Cross Currents online.

Resolve copyright issues (October-November)
Digitize and OCR page images (December-February)
Additional indexing and encoding (March-April)
Online implementation (May)

	Timeline:	October-May with milestones as noted
	Responsibility:	Rosenblum coordinates, Interface Specialist
	Status:	Permission to digitize has been obtained and digitization is scheduled with Preservation pending hiring of a scanning operator.

2.5.2 Explore online publication of other publications of the Slavic Department.

	Timeline:	Ongoing
	Responsibility:	Rosenblum
	Status:	Rosenblum has been exploring possibility of digitizing Slavic monograph series.

2.6 Support for 4DP2

Assist in completion and submission of proposal to CoE. Work on data transformations and system building as directions and content emerges.

	Timeline:	Dependent on Media Union staff and CoE
	Responsibility:	Bonn for proposal, others to be determined as project takes shape.
	Status:	Proposal went forward and was greeted with interest by CoE administration. Currently awaiting funding to move forward.

2.7 Provide support for electronic publication of dissertations as program develops as needs and directions develop.

	Timeline:	Ongoing, depending on directions determined by Rackham and the Library.
	Responsibility:	Dependent on types of tasks to be determined
	Status:	No activity in this area.

2.8 Work with Library staff to identify publication possibilities within their collections.

	Timeline:	Ongoing
	Responsibility:	Bonn
	Status:	There have been several conversations about publishing Special Collections resources. Work is also underway to create an electronic version of the BHL volume on Women in the Early Years at UM.

3 Retrieval System

3.1 Assess needs for modification of textclass retrieval system for journals

	Timeline:	Ongoing with initial analysis and specification in December
	Responsibility:	Interface Specialist, Programmer
	Status:	Staff conducted inititial assessment and discussed with DLPS-IR group.

3.2 Apply textclass retrieval system to ACLS monographs when they appear

	Timeline:	Dependent on ACLS timelines
	Responsibility:	All staff as appropriate, working with DLPS
	Status:	No monographs have been received.

3.2.1 Explore and implement XML style sheets/style associated display. Demo with IE5.

	Timeline:	Education and training September-December, implementation dependent on arrival of content, availability of browsers with xml support
	Responsibility:	Rosenblum, Interface Specialist
	Status:	Experimentation has been underway with Cocoon and associated style sheets applied to demo files from ACLS.

3.3 Develop generic, customizable interface/search and display templates

Timeline: By end of the year

Responsibility: Interface Specialist, Rosenblum

Status: To be done.

4 Management system and tools

4.1 Develop basic management tool for collection of bibliographic data and submission of completed files.

	Timeline:	July for specification, August for implementation
	Responsibility:	DLPD staff with CS
	Status:	Done

4.2 Modify journal management system to support issues-based publishing (currently supports only article-based publishing)

	Timeline:	Specifications in February, implementation dependent on programmer hire
	Responsibility:	Interface specialist, Programmer
	Status:	Staff fell behind on this activity. Completion of Programmer hire (now underway) should stimulate activity in this area.

4.3 Specify system to support peer review process

	Timeline:	Specifications March-April, implementation dependent on programmer hire,
	Responsibility:	Interface specialist, with input from Rosenblum, Bonn, Programmer
	Status:	To be done.

5 Electronic subscription management

5.1 Assess authentication user management system as tool to manage permissions for journal subscribers. Share with editors to garner feedback. Pass feedback on to DLPS staff.

	Timeline:	Internal assessment, November. Work with editors, February and on.
	Responsibility:	Rosenblum, Bonn
	Status:	Existing system seem sufficient.Awaiting demand for service to test.

5.2 Assess possibilities for charging mechanisms for ACLS and other content

	Timeline:	Initial assessment January then ongoing depending on ACLS timelines
	Responsibility:	Programmer with CS, Interface Specialist, Bonn with contributions from ACLS project staff
	Status:	Bonn is currently writing document on charging possibilities. ACLS does not yet require this service, so there has been little pressure to work in this area. Bonn will share document with ACLS participants at meeting in May.

6 Continue exploratory work on print on demand

6.1 Establish relationship with vendor to produce books from existing digital files (i.e. MoA books).

	Timeline:	by end of December
	Responsibility:	Bonn assisting Preservation staff as needed.
	Status:	Discussions have been held with ACME Bookbinding. Library has decided to develop RFP to solicit vendor responses.

6.2 Establish method for selectors to request print replacements

	Timeline:	January, dependent on Preservation staff
	Responsibility:	Bonn assisting Preservation staff as needed.
	Status:	This issue has been discussed in CMDC. There is now a small working group resolving seveal of the issues around Print on Demand.

6.3 Establish method for individuals to request print replacements for library

	Timeline:	February-March, dependent on Preservation staff
	Responsibility:	Bonn assisting Preservation staff as needed.
	Status:	See 6.2

6.4 Establish methods for individuals to be able to purchase print replacements

	Timeline:	February-March, dependent on Preservation staff
	Responsibility:	Bonn assisting Preservation staff as needed.
	Status:	See 6.2

6.5 Move responsibility for reprints to Preservation Dept.

	Timeline:	by end of year
	Responsibility:	Bonn assisting Preservation staff as needed.
	Status:	See 6.2

6.6 Explore issues of branding and marketing reprints.

	Timeline:	ongoing
	Responsibility:	Bonn
	Status:	Some discussion has been held on this. Currently we are considering forming a Library advisory group to think through issues of this sort

6.7 Explore need and venues for print services in relation to content published through Library.

	Timeline:	ongoing
	Responsibility:	Bonn
	Status:	To be done

7 Support for ACLS

7.1 Specify usage statistics required by ACLS and other publishers.

To be done

	Timeline:	Initial assessment March then ongoing depending on ACLS timelines
	Responsibility:	Rosenblum, Bonn, with contributions from ACLS project staff
	Status:

7.2 Adapt existing stat mechanisms to meet publisher needs.

	Timeline:	Initial April-May then ongoing depending on ACLS timelines
	Responsibility:	Programmer with CS/HZ, Interface Specialist, Bonn with contributions from ACLS project staff
	Status:	To be done

7.3 Design ACLS interface

	Timeline:	Dependent on ACLS timelines
	Responsibility:	Interface Specialist, Bonn with contributions from ACLS project staff
	Status:	To be done

7.4 Evaluation of ACLS XML

	Timeline:	Dependent on ACLS timelines
	Responsibility:	Rosenblum
	Status:	We have taken a quick look at sample files, but are waiting for more data for real analysis.

7.5 Liaison to DLPS digitization/backfile conversion services

	Timeline:	Dependent on ACLS timelines, probably starting December
	Responsibility:	Bonn
	Status:	Backfile is expected in March. Preservation is prepared to process.

8 Transitional goals

8.1 Release Directory of Ethnic Organizations

	Timeline:	ASAP depending on approval from O. Feinstein
	Responsibility:	Bonn, Sheppard
	Status:	First release is done. Currently collecting infomration for updating directory (updates are coordinated by Chuck Ransom).

8.2 Release Annotated Bibliography of the French Revolution

	Timeline:	Dependent on approval from Skib/Amman
	Responsibility:	Sheppard
	Status:	This project is moving very slowly. SPO has completed the first online version but Amman wants to udertake considerable revision and additions before releasing.

8.3 Complete and release BMP Index

	Timeline:	by January
	Responsibility:	Rosenblum
	Status:	Data is prepared and is waiting for Wilkin to put online, pending completion of the bibclass revision.Becky Dunkle is looking into resources for supplementing the records with reel numbers.

8.4 Release the Index to the Transcripts of the French Political Trials.

	Timeline:	ASAP depending on approval from Herrada
	Responsibility:	Sheppard
	Status:	Done

8.5 Finish MoA4

Continue management of project until texts are online
Analyze cost data and prepare handbook
Prepare final report

	Timeline:	by January 31
	Responsibility:	Bonn
	Status:	All but a handful of texts are now online. Handbook and final report preparation are underway.

8.6 Continue as liaison to DLPS for Arts of Citizenship, Making of Ann Arbor and the Saline Historical Photographs project.

	Timeline:	ongoing
	Responsibility:	Bonn, Sheppard
	Status:	AOC process is smoothly in place and low demand. MoAA is in planning for phase 2 and Bonn is actively part of that process. Saline Historical Photos are digitized and online.

	Timeline:	By end of the year
	Responsibility:	Interface Specialist, Rosenblum
	Status:	To be done.