 |
 |
Some of us at work were talking about a problem the archivist and other digitizing people have: showing particular digitized objects to particular people with particular restrictions. We called it GRAP: the granular restricted access problem. Here's the archivist's description. If you also had this problem and found a solution, we'd love to know. # ----- begin GRAP We are generating lots of digital assets (TIFFs of historical photographs, WAVs of sound recordings and oral histories, etc.) not only in the course of our regular digitization-for-access activities but also as a result of researcher requests and requests through Accessibility Services. We have a institutional digital repository (DSpace) that works well as a mass distribution tool, but as with most primary sources there are often additional restrictions on access based on copyright, donor permissions, third party privacy issues and other legislation. We are struggling to find ways of promoting these resources that have additional access restrictions. What we want: A system of storing and organizing all digitized materials in one place so that everyone (librarians, archivists, technicians, IT, scholars, faculty, students) can find them. A means of managing and tracking all these objects that will allow: - the creation of unique identifiers (to generate statistical metrics, track chains of custody, access etc.) - quick and easy updating - access controls, possibly with time limits, for all material (X to the public, Y to this person, Z to students in HUM 101 for one week) - seamless streaming of audio and video (with access controls) # ----- end GRAP Any suggestions welcome. I'll pass along and report back. Thanks, Bill -- William Denton Toronto, Canada http://www.miskatonic.org/