[OAI-implementers] Sets in and subjects in OAI-PMH

[Thomas G. Habing]

Jody DeRidder wrote:

> Seems to me that search, selection and sortation would *all* be much more
> useful at the service provider level if we had standardized lists of sets AND
> subjects (LCSH?  SEARS?)  from which to select when creating records at the
> repository level.
> 
>   --jody
> 
> _______________________________________________
> OAI-implementers mailing list
> List information, archives, preferences and to unsubscribe:
> http://oaisrv.nsdl.cornell.edu/mailman/listinfo/oai-implementers
> 
> 

For an interesting view of set usage across different OAI repositories look 
at my Experimental OAI Registry at http://oai.grainger.uiuc.edu/registry/, 
specifically the miscellaneous reports:

   Repositories Sorted by Number of Sets
   Frequently Occurring Distinct Set Specs
   Browse All Distinct Set Specs (hex encoded set are decoded)
   Frequently Occurring Distinct Set Names
   Browse All Distinct Set Names

 From this it appears that set usage is all over the place.  There are some 
repositories that have more sets than they do individual records.  There are 
also many that list sets for which they have no records.  And, while I 
understand why it was done, I am finding the setSpecs that are hex encoded 
strings to be quite annoying -- my OAI pet peeve of the moment. :-)

Anyway, I guess I am seconding the call for some set standardization as long 
as it stays simple.  I also like Sarah Shreeves idea that this should be 
driven in large part by service providers and not just metadata providers.

Kind regards,
	Tom
-- 
Thomas Habing
Research Programmer, Digital Library Projects
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
155 Grainger Engineering Library Information Center, MC-274
thabing@uiuc.edu, (217) 244-4425
http://dli.grainger.uiuc.edu