News from the British Library

(Most items in this section have been contributed by suppliers. Publication does not imply endorsement by Emerald, Aslib or the Editorial Board, of any claims made.)

News from the British Library

Guided Missal: CD-ROM guide turns pages of a spectacular medieval treasure

The Sherborne Missal, a major masterpiece of English medieval art and, valued at £15 million, the most expensive item ever acquired by the British Library, is now available to all on CD-ROM.

Pages from the Missal (the order of service of the Catholic Church as then practised) which dates from 1400, had previously been digitised. These highlights were made available to visitors of the Library's public exhibition galleries using "Turning the pages", the unique touch-screen facility the British Library has devised to show more of its manuscript treasures.

Now "Turning the pages" technology has been adapted and made available on a CD-ROM published by the British Library. Anyone with access to a Windows-based multimedia PC or Macintosh can view selected pages of the Sherborne Missal and be guided through its superb detail which gives a rare insight into medieval life.

Using the latest technology, the user clicks and drags the mouse to "turn"the page of the Missal. Pages can be turned forwards or backwards and zoom facilities show the magnificent detail of the manuscript, including a choir of the native birds of the British Isles each with its name in Middle English in the decorated borders, one of the features of the original. Audio allows users to listen to the sounds of the birds and of monks singing plainchant as depicted in the Missal.

Text (available with audio narration) explaining each page is included alongside the images from the manuscript. The CD-ROM also includes an essay by Dr Michelle Brown, Curator of Illuminated Manuscripts at the British Library,explaining the history and significance of the Sherborne Missal.

Clive Izard who devised "Turning the pages" said:

This CD-ROM introduces new and advanced 3D animation to the project which allows the user to experience the beauty of the Sherborne Missal in their own home, classroom or office. Thanks to the technology involved, viewers will be able to see a snapshot of medieval life in far more detail than ever before.

British Library catalogue enabled for simultaneous searching

The British Library has launched its new BLPCZ service, which provides Z39.50 compliant access to the British Library Public Catalogue for the first time. The international standard for communications between computers in the library and information sector, Z39.50, allows simultaneous searching of multiple bibliographic resources via the Internet.

The service allows quick and easy access to bibliographic records from the catalogues of the main British Library collections (blpc.bl.uk). In addition to this, the new feature will allow users with suitable retrieval software to download and make use of the Library's bibliographic citations for their own personal research purposes. This should prove of particular use to researchers and students compiling bibliographies for monographs, research reports or theses.

Developed and hosted by MIMAS (Manchester Information and Associated Services) at the University of Manchester, BLPCZ is the latest result of a co-operative alliance between the British Library and CURL (the Consortium of University Research Libraries) in the UK which is aimed at providing wider access to the Library's catalogues.

CURL aims to promote, maintain and improve library resources for research,learning and teaching in research-led universities. Its objectives are to develop co-operative and consortial solutions to the challenges faced by members, in the acquisition, processing, storage, preservation, exploitation,dissemination and delivery of information and library materials for the benefit of their institutions. It also aims to assist libraries in the Consortium to pursue and achieve their own institutional objectives.

New bibliographic editing tool cuts workload for publishers and librarians

A new software package aimed at both publishers and librarians, which makes the creation and communication of book trade metadata quicker and simpler, has been developed in a unique partnership between the book industry and the British Library.

Called SIMONE (the Simple ONIX Editing Tool), the software has been commissioned from developers Griffin Brown by Book Industry Communications (BIC)and part funded by the British Library. SIMONE enables users to convert bibliographic and supply chain information easily into the ONIX format – an international standard for structuring and communicating book trade information electronically, developed and maintained by EDItEUR (www.editeur.com). SIMONE offers users a number of features including: creation and maintenance of ONIX records; searching, selecting, browsing and reporting functions; export of selected or all ONIX records.

The software also has benefits and applications within the library world. Users of metadata, such as the British Library, will be able to receive metadata for digital and other items which will support the automatic downloading of data for acquisitions, processing and record creation.

Describing this as a significant development for the library and publishing community, Clive Field, Director of Scholarship and Collections at the British Library, said:

Through SIMONE the Library is investing in future efficiency. The software will enhance the Library's ability to create a national digital archive, by simplifying the data input to its digital library systems. Contributing to the development of SIMONE also encourages the use of a common standard between users of metadata.

Brian Green, Managing Agent of BIC, said, "Delivering book information in ONIX format was an unwelcome chore for publishers with limited resources, but SIMONE will change this. The new software will allow even the smallest publishers to create, maintain and export information in the XML-based ONIX format". He added, "We are delighted that the British Library has appreciated the potential of ONIX as a standard for communicating information between publishers and the Library. The Library's participation in the development of SIMONE will enable publishers of all sizes to communicate data to them electronically and in a standard format".

For further information please contact Press and Public Relations, British Library, 96 Euston Road, London NW1 2DB, UK. Tel: +44(0) 20 7412 7111; Fax: +44(0) 20 7412 7168; E-mail: bart.smith@bl.uk;URL: www.bl.uk