Seamus Ross
Athens University of Economics and Business, School of Information Sciences and Technology, Visiting Professor (2016)
Seamus Ross is Professor in Faculty of Information at the University of Toronto, also known as U of T’s iSchool. During 2016 he is Visiting Professor in the School of Information Sciences and Technology Athens University of Economics and Business (Athens).
He served as Dean for seven years (2009-2015) of the UofT iSchool (Faculty of Information at University of Toronto). Before joining Toronto, he was Professor of Humanities Informatics and Digital Curation and Founding Director of HATII (Humanities Advanced Technology and Information Institute) at the University of Glasgow (1997-2009).
Dr. Ross served as Associate Director of the Digital Curation Centre in the U.K. (2004-2009) and was Principal Director of ERPANET (2001-2004) and DigitalPreservationEurope (DPE) (2006-2009). He was a co-principal investigator on such projects as the DELOS Digital Libraries Network of Excellence (2004-2007), Planets (2006-2010), and Digicult Forum (2002-2004). Dr. Ross was Assistant Secretary (Information Technology) at the British Academy in London (1990-1997), and before that a software company. He retains the status of Professor at the University of Glasgow.
Dr. Ross’s scholarly research has focused on digital humanities, digital preservation, digitization, digital repositories [1], emulation, digital archaeology, semantic extraction and genre classification [2], and cultural heritage informatics [3]. See for instance his co-authored studies of “Digital Archaeology” [4] and forensic storage formats [5], his examination of digital preservation and archival science [6], and his introduction to digital preservation, Changing Trains at Wigan [7] . He also promotes broadening access to scholarship and was instrumental in the creation of the Digiman Series by DigitalPreservationEurope (e.g., 2009 video Digital Preservation and Nuclear Disaster: An Animation [8]).
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Notes:
e.g., http://www.repositoryaudit.eu/
e.g., Kim, Y., and Ross, S. (2011), “Formulating representative features with respect to genre classification”. Text, speech and language technology (42). Springer, pp. 129-147. ISBN 9789048191772 (http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-90-481-9178-9_6)
e.g., http://www.digicult.info/pages/techwatch.php
e.g., an early study S Ross and A Gow, 1999, Digital archaeology? Rescuing Neglected or Damaged Data Resources, (British Library and Joint Information Systems Committee), ISBN 1900508516, http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/services/elib/papers/supporting/pdf/p2.pdf
Kim, Y., and Ross, S. (2012) “Digital forensics formats: seeking a digital preservation storage container format for web archiving.” International Journal of Digital Curation, 7 (2). pp. 21-39. ISSN 1746-8256 (doi:10.2218/ijdc.v7i2.227).
Ross, S. (2011), “Digital Preservation, Archival Science and Methodological Foundations for Digital Libraries”, New Review of Information Networking, 17:1, 43-68. (http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13614576.2012.679446).
Ross, S. (2000), Changing Trains at Wigan: Digital Preservation and the Future of Scholarship, National Preservation Office (British Library), ISBN 0712347178, http://eprints.erpanet.org/45/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbBa6Oam7-w
Address: 140 St George Street
iSchool at UofToronto
Toronto, M5S 3G6
He served as Dean for seven years (2009-2015) of the UofT iSchool (Faculty of Information at University of Toronto). Before joining Toronto, he was Professor of Humanities Informatics and Digital Curation and Founding Director of HATII (Humanities Advanced Technology and Information Institute) at the University of Glasgow (1997-2009).
Dr. Ross served as Associate Director of the Digital Curation Centre in the U.K. (2004-2009) and was Principal Director of ERPANET (2001-2004) and DigitalPreservationEurope (DPE) (2006-2009). He was a co-principal investigator on such projects as the DELOS Digital Libraries Network of Excellence (2004-2007), Planets (2006-2010), and Digicult Forum (2002-2004). Dr. Ross was Assistant Secretary (Information Technology) at the British Academy in London (1990-1997), and before that a software company. He retains the status of Professor at the University of Glasgow.
Dr. Ross’s scholarly research has focused on digital humanities, digital preservation, digitization, digital repositories [1], emulation, digital archaeology, semantic extraction and genre classification [2], and cultural heritage informatics [3]. See for instance his co-authored studies of “Digital Archaeology” [4] and forensic storage formats [5], his examination of digital preservation and archival science [6], and his introduction to digital preservation, Changing Trains at Wigan [7] . He also promotes broadening access to scholarship and was instrumental in the creation of the Digiman Series by DigitalPreservationEurope (e.g., 2009 video Digital Preservation and Nuclear Disaster: An Animation [8]).
-------------
Notes:
e.g., http://www.repositoryaudit.eu/
e.g., Kim, Y., and Ross, S. (2011), “Formulating representative features with respect to genre classification”. Text, speech and language technology (42). Springer, pp. 129-147. ISBN 9789048191772 (http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-90-481-9178-9_6)
e.g., http://www.digicult.info/pages/techwatch.php
e.g., an early study S Ross and A Gow, 1999, Digital archaeology? Rescuing Neglected or Damaged Data Resources, (British Library and Joint Information Systems Committee), ISBN 1900508516, http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/services/elib/papers/supporting/pdf/p2.pdf
Kim, Y., and Ross, S. (2012) “Digital forensics formats: seeking a digital preservation storage container format for web archiving.” International Journal of Digital Curation, 7 (2). pp. 21-39. ISSN 1746-8256 (doi:10.2218/ijdc.v7i2.227).
Ross, S. (2011), “Digital Preservation, Archival Science and Methodological Foundations for Digital Libraries”, New Review of Information Networking, 17:1, 43-68. (http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13614576.2012.679446).
Ross, S. (2000), Changing Trains at Wigan: Digital Preservation and the Future of Scholarship, National Preservation Office (British Library), ISBN 0712347178, http://eprints.erpanet.org/45/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbBa6Oam7-w
Address: 140 St George Street
iSchool at UofToronto
Toronto, M5S 3G6
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concept of appraisal, a process that takes place within the
archives, and the concept of relevance judgement, a process
fundamental to information retrieval systems. More
specifically, we revisit appraisal/selection criteria proposed
as a result of archival and digital curation communities,
and, compare them to relevance criteria as discussed within
information retrieval's literature based discovery. We
illustrate how closely these criteria relate to each other and
discuss how understanding the relationships between the
these disciplines could form a basis for proposing
automated appraisal and selection for archival processes
and enabling complex queries within information retrieval.
The UK LOCKSS
recently completed initiatives to create, structure, or help
foster curricula for the on-going vocational training of
information professionals with the aim of informing the
implementation of DigCurV’s curriculum framework. The
initiatives examined include the Digital Curation Centre,
DaMSSI (Research Data Management Skills Support
Initiative), DigCCurr (Carolina Digital Curation
Curriculum Project), Closing the Digital Curation Gap,
Digital Curation Exchange, International Digital Curation
Education Action (IDEA) Working Group, Digital
Preservation Coalition, Digital Preservation Training
Programme, the Library of Congress’ Digital Preservation
Outreach and Education, the Society of American
Archivists’ Digital Archives Specialist (DAS) Curriculum
and Certification and nestor, the German competence
network.
is a fundamental responsibility of a digital library system and environment. DRAMBORA is designed to facilitate the assessment of digital repositories’ risk exposure: it facilitates internal audit by providing repository administrators with
a means to assess their capabilities, identify their weaknesses, and recognize their strengths. The toolkit represents the latest complementary development in an ongoing international effort to conceive criteria, means and methodologies for audit and certification of trustworthy digital repositories. DRAMBORA already includes the ten CRL principles for digital preservation repositories. As part of the ongoing developments of the toolkit we are investigating its applicability within the digital library domain, and the identification of core principles of digital preservation that can be incorporated into the DELOS Digital Library Reference Model, to ensure that digital libraries conforming to the reference model have preservation functionality.
The primary focus of this review was to assess the work of the Digital Library Transition Team and to identify new lines of development (see Appendix 5 for Terms of Reference). This report concentrates on a digital library service rather than a digital library. This choice of terminology reflects the need to ensure that digital library activities are perceived as part of, and incorporated into, the context of the larger library environment. The current level of commitment to digital capacity development and resource access needs to be enhanced if the Library is to fulfil its duties under the Act. All these developments build on the leadership and success that the Library has had in this emerging area, where its team is on the forefront of digital library thinking and activity at international level.
some 30,000 images.This report reviews JIDI and the image digitisation management model on which it was based. It takes a brief look at the digital imaging project and funding landscape to see whether there are other models, which JISC
might adopt for future work. So far we have not found any adequate model that provides the building blocks necessary to manage distributed digital imaging projects. While the JIDI model is not complete, it does have many of the key elements that a digital imaging model would require and it has shown itself to be extensible.
This 1998 report recommends an ICT policy that will achieve these objectives and identifies how it should be implemented. ICT includes a diverse range of technologies, including computer hardware, software, and information modelling and management methods. Not all of these are of direct benefit to the heritage. The report argues (¶s 7.1-7.17) that the use of ICT to support the creation of digital collections describing heritage resources, the retrospective conversion of existing heritage catalogues and records, and the digitisation of resources to improve their public access should all attract support. It examines the technologies which will contribute to the better collection, management, and reuse of digital content (¶s 8.1-8.29). Two technologies often put forward by applicants for HLF support—Websites (¶s 8.17-8.21) and interactive displays (¶s 8.22-8.25)—are considered in particular detail. The conclusion is that these two uses of technology should only receive support where the base documentation has been created as a first step.
The report acknowledges the need to encourage innovation in the use of ICT in the heritage sector and its use to create new kinds of heritage information resources. To avoid the risk that the HLF could, in the end, commit extensive amounts of funds to innovative areas, the report recommends the establishment
of a limited funded programme for this purpose (¶ 8.12). There are a number of issues—such as standards, rights management, and risk assessment—that the HLF needs to address, if it is to ensure that the uses of ICT it supports will have lasting impact and long-term value (¶s 10.1-10.24). Some of the policies recommended here, if they are to be implemented successfully, require that the HLF take internal actions (e.g. staff training, adoption of new application and assessment guidelines) (¶s 11.1-11.12).
might adopt for future work. So far we have not found any adequate model that provides the building blocks necessary to manage distributed digital imaging projects. While the JIDI model is not complete, it does have many of the key elements that a digital imaging model would require and it has shown itself to be extensible.
The recommendations of this review should inform the development of the JISC Distributed Image Service (JDIS) and may contribute to the efforts of funding bodies to structure their funding initiatives. The provision by JDIS of more effective co-ordination of JISC imaging services and resources will be part of the core of the Distributed National Electronic Resource (DNER)2. It is essential to bear in mind that here we
are only dealing with one type of digitisation, specifically digital imaging. However, the findings and learning points are clearly relevant to a much broader spectrum of concerns for those funding or managing digitisation programmes, including the JISC.
be easily identified. While in the early daysof digitization this approach had much to commend itself, now that the landscape of creation, delivery and use has changed it is important that the selection of material for representation in digital form be subject to systematic and thoughtful planning. Four key parameters could provide a framework to structure efforts to identify and select material that could be digitized.
This paper examines these and a matrix of other issues which can assist those designing digitization programmes in justifying their decisions to digitize certain materials first rather than others. It stresses that all programmes of digitization should recognize the value of the asset, the qualities of individual sources, and the needs of users. These are the key elements of a Source-Orientated, User-
Driven, Asset-Aware MOdel, (SOUDAAM). Digital Representation an Interpretative Process.
General awareness of the enabling potential of technology is leading to an increase in the numbers of applicants to the HLF who are seeking support for heritage projects using information technology. The consultations, surveys, interviews, and research, on which the ICT policy we recommend is based, all conclude that the HLF should recognise the potential of ICT to support the creation of resources in digital form, whether their content is museum, library, or archival catalogues, sites and monuments records, records of species or habitats, or the built heritage. These types of digital resources provide the essential materials for those working in the heritage sector to better conserve the heritage assets in their care, and provide the raw materials for the delivery of interpretative resources to improve public understanding and enjoyment of these assets. In supporting the use of ICT to create digital content the HLF will be funding the development of resources of lasting value. These will improve access to and understanding of the heritage.
This report recommends an ICT policy that will achieve these objectives and identifies how it should be implemented. ICT includes a diverse range of technologies, including computer hardware, software, and information modelling and management methods. Not all of these are of direct benefit to the heritage. The report argues (¶s 7.1-7.17) that the use of ICT to support the creation of digital collections describing heritage resources, the retrospective conversion of existing heritage catalogues and records, and the digitisation of resources to improve their public access should all attract support. It examines the technologies which will contribute to the better collection, management, and reuse of digital content (¶s 8.1-8.29). Two technologies often put forward by applicants for HLF support—Websites (¶s 8.17-8.21) and interactive displays (¶s 8.22-8.25)—are considered in particular detail. The conclusion is that these two uses of technology should only receive support where the base documentation has been created as a first step.
The report acknowledges the need to encourage innovation in the use of ICT in the heritage sector and its use to create new kinds of heritage information resources. To avoid the risk that the HLF could, in the end, commit extensive amounts of funds to innovative areas, the report recommends the establishment
of a limited funded programme for this purpose (¶ 8.12). There are a number of issues—such as standards, rights management, and risk assessment—that the HLF needs to address, if it is to ensure that the uses of ICT it supports will have lasting impact and long-term value (¶s 10.1-10.24). Some of the policies recommended here, if they are to be implemented successfully, require that the HLF take internal actions (e.g. staff training, adoption of new application and assessment guidelines) (¶s 11.1-11.12).
In conclusion, the policy—and strategies for making it achievable—promotes the use of ICT for content creation. In adopting this policy and its associated strategies the HLF will:
• maximise the benefits to the conservation of our national heritage assets;
• bring tangible benefits to the public through access to heritage information;
• contribute heritage information resources of value to education and lifelong learning;
• aid the development of a heritage-rich information society;
• promote the use of ICT in the support of activities which have lasting value—a digital information collection composed of local resources of national significance which will eventually be comparable to the founding of national collections in the 18th century; and,
• minimise the risks associated with ICT.