Dan, Thanks. What is the meaning of "freshmeat" within the context of the OSSN Libraries Portal?? Jerry, 1/30/02 -----Original Message----- From: DLF Digital Library Announcements [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Daniel Greenstein Sent: Wednesday, January 30, 2002 9:46 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Introducing the OSSNLibraries Portal Dear friends, I'd like to draw your attention to OSSNLibraries Portal at http://dewey.library.nd.edu/ossnlibraries/portal/ The portal is "a prototype of an open source software (OSS) in libraries portal -- a combination directory/webliography of OSS projects and information resources designed for and useful in library settings. The Software section is a directory of OSS software browsable by a number of characteristics. The Webliography lists themes pertaining to OSS in libraries and zero or more links to Internet resources elaborating on the theme." The prototype envisages a portal that may develop as a community effort with regard to projects and information that may be notified and reviewed by its users. The idea for the portal arises from a meeting that the DLF hosted in October 2001 to consider how to assess claims made for open-source software (OSS) and, if appropriate, to identify steps to move OSS activity into the mainstream of digital library development. A report on the meeting is available from http://www.diglib.org/architectures/ossrep.htm Implementation owes great deal to Eric Lease Morgan and the Digital Access and Information Architecture Department of the University Libraries of Notre Dame. The prototype portal provides a framework within which a community activity may take place and be developed. Next steps are currently being considered about which comments are very much welcomed. In addition, the prototype demonstrates one way that the DLF may serve its members (and the broader community) through "technology watch" initiatives, that is, initiatives that monitor activity in discrete areas of interest to those developing digital libraries. I would also invite you to consider how we might extend this technology watch function to other areas of interest (in this respect, we are looking both for the areas of interest we may cover as well as the mechanisms we may use to cover them) and to contact me with any ideas they may have. Kind regards, Dan Daniel Greenstein Director, Digital Library Federation 1755 Massachusetts Ave, NW #500 Washington DC 20036 (202) 939-4762