CALL FOR PARTICIPATION SPECTRUM XML-DTD TEST BED

CIMI has been participating in mda's ongoing project to develop an
XML-DTD for the established museum standard, SPECTRUM. With the first
working version of the DTD now complete, CIMI plans to lead a test bed
designed to test the DTD and encourage its use in the museum community
for a variety of purposes.

CIMI would like to invite all interested organizations to join us for
the XML Test Bed. Participants will be asked to contribute a minimum of
100 records in one or more of the following areas:

+ Object description/catalogue information in any subject area
+ Inventory control (e.g. basic description, location control, auditing)
+ Exhibition management
+ Collections management (e.g. loans management acquisition & disposal
management)
+ Existing data sets subject to exchange (e.g. data regularly published
to public information services)

+ + +

There are several goals for the test bed:

1. To successfully mark up records using the XML-DTD and then to migrate
these records across at least two systems. Data will then be validated
to ensure that it has retained its integrity throughout the process.

2. To assess the extent to which the XML-DTD can contribute towards the
integration of public access and collections management systems by
enabling the sharing of data between applications within organisations.

This is part of a wider programme of work involving XML, through which
CIMI aims to increase our community's understanding of how museums can
make best use of XML, details of which can be found at
www.cimi.org/wg/xml_spectrum/xml_long_desc.html Further information
about the proposed SPECTRUM XML-DTD Project, including timeline, goals,
objectives and expected outcomes can be found at
www.cimi.org/wg/xml_spectrum/xml_testbed_desc.doc

Organisations interested in participating in this project should send an
expression of interest via e-mail to Alice Grant at
agrant@alicegrant.com no later than Friday, February 28th, 2001.

+ + +

Expressions of interest should include:

+ Name of organization or institution
+ Physical address of organization or institution
+ URL of organization or institution
+ Personal contact name, job title, telephone number, and email address
+ Short description of the type of contribution envisaged.

CIMI will evaluate responses and contact eligible institutions to answer
questions and review project goals, objectives and time lines.
Membership in the CIMI Consortium is a pre-requisite.

For further information about CIMI membership, please contact John
Perkins at jperkins@fox.nstn.ca; Angela Spinazze at ats@atspin.com or
Alice Grant at agrant@alicegrant.com.

We encourage you to copy and/or pass this announcement on to appropriate
colleagues in your organization or elsewhere.