Conspectus

About The Conspectus Tool

The conspectus tool is a web based data management tool. It maintains the metadata of preserved (or to be preserved) collections that is relevant to the library (or any partner institution), as well as LOCKSS specific metadata. The conspectus offers a Graphical User Interface to project members so they can create, update, and maintain their collection descriptions. The conspectus generates LOCKSS specific configuration data which is used by system scripts to configure the MetaArchive LOCKSS production and test networks.

The LOCKSS specific metadata is managed by the core functionality of the conspectus tool. Library specific metadata of each collection is viewed and updated in special purpose pages which are, for historic reasons, maintained by the MetaArchive Cooperative's original conspectus tool. We intend to migrate all functionality into the current conspectus. You can view the full metadata schema at Conspectus Schema. The conspectus tool is accessible through the MetaArchive RSS feed.

The MetaArchive Cooperative already has many conspectus entries. Please review some of the existing entries before making your own. This documentation is accompanied by a demo installation of the conspectus which is also available via the MetaArchive RSS feed.

Please note the following before creating a conspectus entry:

• Each collection is created in the context of an archive.
• The Library metadata includes descriptive, administrative, and technical metadata fields.
• It is not necessary to complete a collection entry in one sitting; entries can be updated incrementally as needed. Therefore, staff members can take turns editing a collection's conspectus entry.
• The conspectus tool tries to ensure data consistency by only allowing/offering operations that 'make sense'. For example, the conspectus tool makes sure that collections that describe content preserved in the network are not deleted or modified in inappropriate ways.

For additional information see ConspectusOverview, ConspectusHowTo and Release Notes

More Information about setting a collection up for harvesting can be found at PluginStandards in the Plugins section, which has other useful information about plugin development.

Revisions / Feature Updates / ...

Feature updates are tracked on our UpdatesConspectus Page.