Mission Statement
EULER is a European based world class real virtual
library for mathematics with up-to-date technological solutions, a
sound sustainable business model, well accepted by users.
In particular, EULER provides a world reference and delivery service,
transparent to the end user and offering full coverage of the mathematics
literature world-wide, including bibliographic data, peer reviews and/or
abstracts, indexing, classification and search, transparent access
to library services, co-operating with commercial information providers
(publishers, bookstores).
The EULER services provide a gateway to the electronic catalogues and repositories
of participating institutions, while the latter retain complete responsibility
and control over the creation and maintenance of their data collections as
well as the access provisions pertaining to their offerings. In as far as
the EULER service indexes or stores metadata records of its participants,
these data are used strictly in accordance to the stated aims.
Based on the achievements of the two successfully completed EULER projects,
the EULER Consortium works to achieve the following goals:
- Encourage synergies, accelerate wider adoption
and overcome barriers to exploitation by lowering entry barriers for
new information providers such as libraries or publishers.
- Exploitation of EULER service model leading edge
technology in service applications and its continuous evaluation,
adaptation, and consolidation.
- Continue the wide dissemination of results and
exchange experiences across borders and scientific sectors and participation
in co-ordination frameworks.
The European Mathematical Society (EMS) represents the interests of
the mathematical community for which the EULER service is made. The
EULER services will remain under control of organizations representing
the public interest.
Membership
The EULER Consortium consists of full members and associate
members. Only not-for-profit institutions can become full or associate
members. In addition the Consortium recognizes another category: commercial
parties may join as sponsoring members. New members will be subject
to approval by the European Mathematical Society and the EULER Executive
Committee.
Full members consist of the current EULER participants
and new members who are prepared to contribute actively to the Consortium.
In addition to the conditions required from associate members, they
are also required to be actively involved in the EULER Consortium by
appointing a representative who takes part in meetings and (electronic)
discussions. Contributions with regard to technical support and know-how
are welcome.
Associate members participate as information providers
only. They provide metadata and regular updates of their data according
to Dublin Core based EULER specifications. For libraries with OPACs
it is highly recommended that they provide document delivery services,
at least within their national boundaries.
Commercial partners (sponsoring members) are participants
who contribute their metadata according to Dublin Core based EULER
specifications and for which a financial contribution is required, based
on an agreement with the Consortium - they cannot be full members.
Contrary to commercial partners, not-for-profit members
are institutions whose main objective is to provide or sell information
but where notions like profit and shareholders value are not their
main concern. Examples of such members are academic/research institutions
and societies. Examples of commercial partners are for-profit publishers
and book vendors.
During the EULER-TAKEUP project, several institutions and commercial partners
were contacted as potential new members, and informed on general aims and
conditions. The project consortium has received several positive reactions
following these requests, and further sucessful development can be expected.
Tasks of Members
The Consortium acts through its members to ensure the
continuation of the EULER service. It also performs the supervision
and administrative tasks with regard to the addition of new members.
The tasks of the Consortium members consist of
the following:
- Service providers
This role consists of installing and maintaining the EULER
engine(s) at the site of one or one or more of the the Consortium's
full members.
- Information providers
The members of the EULER Consortium are maintaining and possibly
expanding access to their databases through the EULER service. Other
information providers can participate as associate or sponsoring members
in EULER without having to worry about the duties of full membership.
- End user support
For questions and problems pertaining to specific data sets,
the information providers themselves are responsible in providing
end user support. All other questions are dealt with by the Executive
Committee, the respective service providers, or other full members.
Co-ordinating tasks as well as technical and administrative
tasks will be carried out by the Executive Committee. As necessary
such tasks can be distributed among the full members. Specifically,
the following tasks will be handled:
- Recruiting new information providers and commercial
partners
Registration and administration of new members and partners.
It includes legal and rights management, negotiating (sponsoring)
contracts with commercial partners and advertisers.
- Information provider support
Consisting of basic technical advice concerning EULER specifications
to new members. If required, advanced technical support can be provided
at a fee.
- Legal and rights management
This task consists of maintaining a point of contact for
addressing legal questions with regard to copyright questions relating
to metadata.
- Financial management
Keeping proper books of income and expenditure. Yearly business
plans for the Consortiums finances are calculated. Relation with finance
office.
A Scientific Supervisory Board is installed:
- Scientific supervision
This task is taken on by the European Mathematical Society
(EMS), their appointed representatives, and other suitably qualified
and recognized members. The Scientific Supervisory Board is responsible
to ensure the scientific quality of the EULER service, and advises the
Executive Committee on scientific matters.
Members are required to provide metadata and regular (at
least monthly) updates of their databases according to Dublin Core
based EULER specifications. The necessary scripts for the conversion
are the responsibility of the member. The Consortium can provide initial
and basic technical advice. The interfaces for requesting document delivery,
pay-per-view of a full-text article or ordering a publication, including
the rates, are the sole responsibility of the information provider.
If a member does not have the means to provide the required programs
or scripts, the Consortium can provide the necessary technical support
against a fee per hour. At the discretion of the Consortium, such
a fee may be waived.
Data provision and update procedures might need further specific
agreements between the Consortium, the service provider(s) concerned,
and the information provider, depending on special cases and needs.
Model agreements and technical procedures are given in a separate
document.
For more information contact EULER!
©2001, 2002 EULER Consortium
Supported by the IST Programme of the European Community: Project EULER-TAKEUP (IST-2000-29445)
