I.A EXPANDING ACCESS DURING PROJECT
The Library would like to vary the access provided during three periods in the project:
I. B WHAT SORT OF RESEARCHERS VISIT THE MOTION PICTURE AND TELEVISION AND RECORDED SOUND READING ROOMS?
The researchers are generally scholars or persons producing new television and radio programs or sound recordings. Some sense of the clientele may be deduced from the Library's guidelines governing use of the facilities:
I.C WHAT TOPICS ARE STUDIED?
Researchers may pursue the biography and works of a film director, actor, musical performer, or scriptwriter; styles used in filmmaking or represented in performances (which may require close analysis of an item in the collection); trends in news or entertainment content; aspects of the politics or culture of a period represented in the collections; graphic arts styles of phonograph record albums; and many other topics. Researchers often seek to make "scratch" or reference copies of visual items, e.g., photocopies of articles, film frames, or graphical elements of, say, a phonograph record.
II. Location and workstation configuration
II.A RECORDED SOUND REFERENCE CENTER
The Library proposes that the high-end audio workstation be located in a
soundproof room in the neighboring Performing Arts Reading Room., subject to
approval by the Chief of the Music Division.. This location will permit the use of
high quality loudspeakers and will accommodate two or perhaps even three
persons for a listening session. There should be some type of modest color printer
available to print graphic elements and bibliographic data. The moderate quality workstations will be on one of the reference desks and on
one or more staff desk. Listening at these workstations would be via headphones
or perhaps loudspeakers of the type typically furnished with multimedia desktop
computers. II.B MOTION PICTURE AND TELEVISION READING ROOM
The Library proposes that high-end audio workstation be located in a small room
at the edge of the reading room, presently occupied by microform readers and
microfilm storage shelves. The Library's initial preference-subject to discussion
and modification during planning-is for a two (or even three, see below) monitor
setup: one or two video monitor(s) for the actual program and a computer monitor
for the bibliographic (cataloging) information and a "remote playback controller.
Listening to soundtracks will generally be via headphone although loudspeakers
should also be available for special projects or selected tours by visitors. There
should be some type of modest color printer available to print still frames and
bibliographic data. The moderate quality workstations will be on one of the reference desks and on
one or more staff desk. Listening at these workstations would be via headphones
or perhaps loudspeakers of the type typically furnished with multimedia desktop
computers. II.C ITS AND NLDP LEARNING CENTER WORKSTATIONS
Locations to be determined. III. Playback capabilities for researcher audio and video
workstations
A variety of controls and/or capabilities are desired for playback. These are listed below
under the headings very desirable and desirable. The Library wishes
to take maximum
advantage of off-the-shelf software or hardware and understands that this may limit the
number of features that can be provided. The Library understands that certain features
may be available at the high-end workstations but may not provided for the moderate
quality workstations. III.A VERY DESIRABLE CAPABILITIES III.B DESIRABLE CAPABILITIES
III.C INDIANA UNIVERSITY EXAMPLE
As noted in the RFQ attachments, a fully realized research-access system for students of
music
has been developed at Indiana University. There is a
web
description of the
Indiana system, including input, storage, and research access features. IV. Interface design ("presentation")
IV.A BROWSER BASED ACCESS
The Library proposes that interfaces reach the end users in Web browser software. IV.B STYLE
The interface to be developed is a researcher's interface and ought not achieve
"entertainment-industry" levels of beauty or excitement. It should be complete,
clear, and workmanlike in order to serve persons with a serious interest in the
underlying content. In short, the style is to be more akin to a reference book than
a weekly newstand magazine. The design will presumably make extensive use of scripts to produce HTML pages
on the fly by scripts. Although the prototype need not be identical in look and feel to American Memory,
readers are encouraged to look at sample collections such as The John and Ruby
Lomax 1939 Southern States Recording Trip or Theodore Roosevelt:
His Life and Times on Film. The relevant aspect of these examples is how
individual items are presented from the database and not the packaging of
the collection as a whole. (Search for an example or use the subject or title browse
lists to get to individual items.) For comparison, see also an example of an online Library research database for
pictures. IV.C DIVISION OF LABOR FOR INTERFACE DESIGN
The Library plans to work with the contractor to develop storyboards or mockups
for the interface but will not have staff available to realize the needed scripts or
other elements, including graphics. Thus the Library anticipates that interface
development will be carried out by the contractor. V. Parameters for limited access management for the
prototype
V.A INITIAL ACCESS
Section I.A above indicates that the working-access portion of
the project will begin with an internal staff review period, followed by the M/B/RS
reading room access period. During these periods, the Library will supply a list of
IP address for the workstations authorized for access. V.B LATER ACCESS
When access is provided to the expanded Library of Congress community, there
are two possible scenarios. First, the list of IP address may be expanded to cover a
few dozen workstations throughout the institution. Alternately, the Library may
permit access to all workstations within the "loc.gov" domain. This matter will be
discussed during the planning period.
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