[OAI-implementers] returning *data* (as opposed to metadata)

[Andy Powell]

On Wed, 25 Jul 2001, herbert van de sompel wrote:

> But, obviously, if a data provider has full-content in a well-structured
> format, he may as well consider exposing references in a preparsed
> manner as yet another separate "information packet": doing so would lead
> to 3 "metadata-formats" related to the same content: metadata, data,
> references.

Hmmm... the protocol is named the 'The Open Archives Initiative Protocol
for Metadata Harvesting".  Using it to harvest "Data" seems reasonably
non-intuitive to me, given this name.

I have no problem with the notion that one person's metadata is another
person's data.  It is a pretty extreme view to say that data in the form
of the full content of an article is metadata - which is what you appear
to be saying above?

I don't disagree that the protocol *could* be used to harvest data - I
just wonder if it *should* be used in that way.  Particularly at this
stage in the life of the protocol?

Can someone clarify the differences/advantages of harvesting data directly
using OAI vs. harvesting metadata using OAI followed by harvesting data
using HTTP based on the URL in the metadata?

Andy
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