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new IMS/CNI collaboration on digital libraries and
lea
I'm very pleased to share the announcement below, which I think
represents another step in engaging the implications and potentials of
linking digital library systems with the rapidly-evolving world of
digital learning objects and the systems that support them.
When the white paper mentioned in the release is available I will
put out an announcement to this list.
Clifford Lynch
Director, CNI
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
IMS forms alliance with Coalition for Networked Information
(CNI)
Collaboration to further interoperability in
digital libraries and learning object repositories
Burlington, Mass. March 13, 2003: IMS
Global Learning Consortium (IMS) today announced a working alliance
between IMS and CNI to explore the development of common architectural
and functional models leading to joint specifications and improved
technical interoperability in the rapidly evolving areas of digital
libraries and learning object repositories.
Professor Neil McLean, Director of IMS Australia
and a member of the IMS Board of Directors, is leading the initiative
on behalf of IMS. He said, "The reaching out to the library
community and to all those involved in digital asset management within
institutions marks an important milestone in the evolution of IMS.
CNI, which brings together the information technology and library
communities, is an ideal partner for this effort." Neil McLean
went on to say, " The recently released IMS Digital Repository
Interoperability Specification version 1.0 provides an excellent
framework for the consultation exercise and it should provide a
platform for further technical specifications."
Dr. Clifford Lynch, Executive Director of CNI,
observed,"This is a very timely collaboration as higher education
institutions try to sort through both the technical and organizational
challenges of a landscape that is being transformed by new
developments such as learning management systems and institutional
repositories. The portfolio of IMS standards, and the architectural
work that they have advanced over the last few years will be an
essential basis for addressing these challenges"
Collaborative white paper and workshop
underway
IMS and CNI are developing a joint white paper with assistance from
Lorcan Dempsey, Vice President, Research, OCLC and David Seaman,
Director, Digital Library Federation. A draft will be previewed at the
spring meetings of both IMS and the CNI Task Force, and further
refined at a joint planning workshop to be held in June 2003. While
the initial focus of the alliance will be specifically on the
requirements of higher education institutions around the world, the
group aims to provide technical advice and specifications for all
education and training communities wishing to develop and use
interoperable digital library and learning object
repositories.
About IMS
The IMS Global Learning Consortium develops open technical
specifications to support distributed learning. All specifications
developed by IMS are made available to the public without charge
through the IMS website. IMS is a non-profit organization supported by
members of a worldwide consortium that includes 50 Contributing
Members and 60 Developers Network subscribers. The IMS in Europe
foundation supports activities among European members. Information
about IMS specifications, on-going activities, and membership is
available at the IMS website www.imsglobal.org.
About CNI
CNI is an organization dedicated to supporting the transformative
promise of networked information technology for the advancement of
scholarly communication and the enrichment of intellectual
productivity. Some 200 institutions representing higher
education, publishing, network and telecommunications, information
technology, and libraries and library organizations make up CNI's
Members. For more information, visit www.cni.org.
For more information contact: Caroline
Oldershaw, Manager of Marketing and Public Relations, +1
608-233-3277, coldershaw@imsglobal.org
The names of actual companies and products
mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective
owners.
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