Project Name: Brown EARS Upgrade

Project Orginator: Ned Quist

Departmental Sponsor:

Project Description:
-- Make it possible for faculty to request not only tracks from CDs/LPs/cassettes, etc. but also to request tracks from our now substantial licensed resources (Classical Music Library, Naxos Music Library, Naxos Jazz, Smithsonian Global Sound, Contemporary World Music, and African American Song). I am convinced that we would see a significant jump in use for these resources if they could easily be used for reserves.

-- We need to begin thinking about how we are going to handle files that are downloaded for reserve use (e.g. emusic or I-Tunes (which will soon offer DRM-free files) – provided such the use license allows us to use them. The reason that this relevant to EARS/OCRA is that our current metadata infrastructure is based on the notion of using albums – stand alone mp3s don’t need that structure, but do need something else.

-- The faculty interface needs to change to allow for more flexible means on requesting – i.e. titles rather than track numbers.

-- We need to look at audio streaming using a client other than RealAudio. The latest version of RealAudio is a REAL problem for the newer Macs. Helix can stream to Quicktime. But I’m not sure if it’s an either/or situation or if we must choose.

Why is this project important?
This is a core service we’ve offered for a five years. If we don’t upgrade or address the problerms soon, we might as well abandon it, because it may become irrelevant or simply unusable.


Additional Information:


Date Submitted: March 3, 2009

Desired Completion Date: May 4, 2009

Status: awaiting review

Edit (Library IT Advisory Council)