I pass this along to those who may know of this project and/or seen it demonstrated at MCN -- Steve Ferguson, Princeton ------- Received: from PUCC.PRINCETON.EDU by PUCC.PRINCETON.EDU (Mailer R2.10 ptf008) with BSMTP id 9357; Thu, 17 Feb 94 19:11:53 EST Received: from PUCC.BITNET (NJE origin LISTSERV@PUCC) by PUCC.PRINCETON.EDU (LMail V1.1d/1.7f) with BSMTP id 4206; Thu, 17 Feb 1994 19:09:03 -0500 Date: Thu, 17 Feb 1994 16:07:54 PST Reply-To: "RLG Archives, Manuscripts and Special Collections List" <[log in to unmask]> Sender: "RLG Archives, Manuscripts and Special Collections List" <[log in to unmask]> From: RLGAMSC MODERATOR <[log in to unmask]> Subject: AMIS Update and Next Steps To: Multiple recipients of list RLGAMSC <[log in to unmask]> WELCOME TO RLG LISTSERV RLGAMSC! ==================================== Number: 155 Date: Feb. 17, 1994 Today's Topics: (1) From: James Michalko, RLG president Subject: AMIS Update and Next Steps (1)--------------------------------------------------------------------------- [The following message was sent via email and US Mail to all RLG Member Representatives and the Board. It is being posted on this list because of the keen interest the RLG AMSC community has had in the AMIS project.] Date: February 18, 1994 From: James Michalko, RLG president via email and US Mail Subject: AMIS Update and Next Steps In December I reported to you that work on RLG's Archives and Museum Information System would be suspended as of 31 December, due to our lack of success in securing funding for the continuation of the project. I also said that we planned to hold a briefing soon for interested parties, to report on and discuss various aspects of AMIS including any next steps we contemplated. I am writing now to bring you up to date on these two matters. First, we have concluded that we must formally terminate the AMIS project. Prospects for development support, either through direct funding to RLG or in partnership with commercial system vendors, simply do not exist at the present time, and RLG cannot provide the necessary level of financing out of operating income. We regret this decision, but are convinced it is the only realistic one. I've therefore decided to cancel the briefing anticipated in my December letter to you. Second, discussions at the RLG Annual Meeting held here on February 3 (where AMIS termination was also announced) have helped us to rethink our strategy for RLG's goal of developing a comprehensive database of cultural resources. AMIS was an important means toward that end, but one with a highly specific focus. We now propose to take a broader look at cooperative approaches to the management and preservation of the national cultural heritage and at the role that RLG can appropriately play. To begin this effort, we expect to convene an invitational meeting in May or June 1994, involving those who manage, use, and fund cultural resources -- that is, librarians, archivists, and museum professionals; scholars and researchers; and foundation officers. We will commission a number of brief position papers as a starting point for our discussions. In addition to illuminating significant topics, the meeting should result in heightened mutual understanding between RLG and the stakeholders in the community. Working with leaders of the cultural resources community, within and outside RLG's membership, we want to explore some critical issues, such as: * the control of intellectual property rights in the context of widely accessible electronic repositories of visual and textual images; * the transition from highly general standards frameworks to real standards facilitating the exchange of cultural information; and * the need for concerted action by all kinds of repositories to identify and achieve common goals larger than any one can manage on its own. I believe there is a real opportunity for RLG to work with its members to play a significant role, supported by various partnerships, in helping the community organize for networked access to its resources in multimedia formats. You can expect to hear from us sometime in early spring about details of the meeting I've described here. All of us look forward to working with you on this important challenge, and I welcome your advice as we move forward. cc: RLG Board of Directors To: RLGAMSC@RUTVM1 ý OWNER-RL RUTVM1 2/17/94 þRLGAMSC MODERATOR Multiple recipients 2/17/94 AMIS Update and Next Steps