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Exploit Interactive: A Web Magazine For The Library

and Information Professional

Brian Kelly Email

UK Web Focus B.Kelly@ukoln.ac.uk

UKOLN

University of Bath URL

Bath, BA2 7AYhttp://www.ukoln.ac.uk/

UKOLN is funded by the British Library Research and Innovation Centre, the Joint Information Systems Committee of the Higher Education Funding Councils, as well as by project funding from the JISC’s Electronic Libraries Programme and the European Union. UKOLN also receives support from the University of Bath where it is based.

UKOLN is funded by the British Library Research and Innovation Centre, the Joint Information Systems Committee of the Higher Education Funding Councils, as well as by project funding from the JISC’s Electronic Libraries Programme and the European Union. UKOLN also receives support from the University of Bath where it is based.

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Contents

Exploit Interactive

• Design Specification– Aims– Resources– Name– Content and Style– Technology– Functionality

• Content - Issue 1

• Additional Functionality

• Liaison

• Challenges

} Design

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What is Exploit Interactive?

Exploit Interactive:• A web magazine for the broad European library

and information networking professional• A forum for dissemination for EU Telematics for

Libraries projects• A meeting place for project holders and users and

potential users of project deliverables

• Seeks to involve members of the EU, EEA member states, and CEE countries

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Deliverables

The following deliverables will be provided:• A specification for the magazine

– Aims– Guidelines– Technical configuration

• Seven issues, published every 3 months

In addition we will:• Provide additional deliverables by using Exploit

Interactive to further UKOLN's research interests (esp. in area of metadata)

• Document technical developments in order to advise related projects

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Changes to Timescales

Original timetable has been modified slightly due to the following:

• Hardware problems with server (had to be return to manufacturer)

• Staff illnesses• Holidays• Changes in staff personnel• Additional work required on other UKOLN projects

Publication of first issue delayed.

However will still produce 7 issues.

Guidelines will evolve with experience

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Technology Specifications

The following technologies will be used to deliver Exploit Interactive:

• Windows NT server: Enables UKOLN to gain experience of NT

• MS SiteServer software: Microsoft's web management system which provides various tools which are used in conjunction with the IIS server. Provides a shrink-wrapped solution for delivering interactive features of Exploit Interactive

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Plans - Magazine Aims

Main AimExploit Interactive's main aim is to support dissemination about Telematics for Libraries projects and their deliverables, to users and potential users.

Implications• Not a research publication or learned journal and

not a tabloid.• Simply publishing projects' annual reports or

publicity materials will have limited appeal to readers

• Important to include articles from users of project deliverables

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Content and StyleContent includes mainstream features on projects, and additional articles of interest to the readership:

Telematics for Libraries Articles• Reports from projects• Articles about projects• European news items (conference announcements, funding

initiatives, etc.)

Additional Articles• Technological developments• Country-specific news• Additional news items• "Fun items" e.g. crossword

Exploit Interactive name:• Shows links with

Exploit project• Emphasis importance of

interaction and not just static one-way dissemination

The URL exploit-lib.org has been obtained

Exploit Interactive name:• Shows links with

Exploit project• Emphasis importance of

interaction and not just static one-way dissemination

The URL exploit-lib.org has been obtained

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Functionality

The functionality to be provided in Exploit Interactive includes:

• Browsing through the content of the magazine and past contents (from issue 1)

• Searching the content (from issue 1)

• Online feedback to articles (from issue 1?)

• Virtual meeting place for real-time feedback (initially for advisory group) - (later)

• Limited language negotiation - (later)

• Support for visually impaired and other disabled readers (from issue 1)

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Searching

• Will use MS SiteServer's indexing tool to index Exploit Interactive.

• Will provide metadata for articles to enhance searching:

• Search for articles:– about project PRIDE– by John Smith– Restrict searches to

the Features section

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Exploit Interactive DesignDesign features include:

• Simple interface

• Navigational bars

• Consistent look and feel

External user interface design specialist commissioned to provide design.

External user interface design specialist commissioned to provide design.

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Content - Issue 1

Features from Telematics Projects• PRIDE • CHILIAS • IESERV• LISTED • DERAL • LIBERATOR

General Features• Extranet-based doc. delivery (used by an EU committee)

• EC funding for libraries in the Fifth Framework Programme

• The Telematics for Libraries web site

• Amazon.com associate programme

• Interview with Thorsten Engler

Regular Columns

• Web Technologies: Web protocols

• Web Technologies: URLs for projects

• Behind the website: The Euroguide website

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Content - Issue 1 (continued)

News and Events• Report on NETLAB• 5th Framework

conference

Et cetera• Crossword• About the magazine

SummaryTo date:

6 projects featured6 other features3 regular columns2 conference reports / announcements2 misc features

Over 50 pages with several articles still to come!

SummaryTo date:

6 projects featured6 other features3 regular columns2 conference reports / announcements2 misc features

Over 50 pages with several articles still to come!

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Additional Functionality

Language Support• Language for articles is English. However

articles may be supplied in additional languages.

• Navigational icons and key help pages will be available in additional languages.

• Language negotiation will be used to provide automatic delivery of pages available in additional languages.

• Language metadata will be used to support searching

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Additional Functionality

Author Upload Centre• Initially articles are submitted using email.• At a later date it is intended to provide an

author upload centre which will enable:– Authors to upload articles using a web

browser– Author to supply relevant metadata

• Will use the appropriate options in MS SiteServer

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Additional Functionality

The following additional functionality may be provided, subject to resources:

Mirroring• A mirror would:

– Provide improved access to network-challenged (e.g. Eastern Europe)

– Enhance dissemination (e.g. US, Australia)

• Therefore we will:– Design web site to facilitate mirroring– Exploring SiteServer's replication facility

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Additional Functionality

Metadata• Metadata will be applied to articles and

menu pages• Will include:

– Resource discovery metadata– Admin metadata (e.g. DeleteBy, ReviewBy)– Auditing metadata (project and section category)

• Will deploy applications to:– Automating notification for admin procedures– Processing by search engine– Automatically flag obsolete articles

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Guidelines

Guidelines being produced for:• Authors: Background to magazine. Content

coverage and writing style. Editorial processes. Document flow processes.

• Editors: Definition of editorial processes• Advisory Group: Role of advisory group• Editorial Board: Role of editorial board

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Publicity

Publicity material (flyers, posters) is being produced to encourage potential authors to write articles and potential readers to read the magazine

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Challenges

Exploit Interactive faces several challenges:Challenge Comment

Getting content OK for issue 1

Appropriate content Avoiding simple publicity

Quality Including writing style

Minimising editorial role Esp. for non-English speakers

Coverage Full coverage of projects

Too much content! Personalised views?

Being read Ensuring magazine is read

The audience Read by right people

Coverage Read throughout Europe

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Questions

Any questions?