Bibliographic Metadata for Gutenberg

Frank talked in Amsterdam last week on a panel about metadata, and I
just finished having a conversation with Norm Walsh about bibliographic
metadata as a separate component in DocBook. The prototype DTDs I've been
playing with have a blank module for standardized metadata, and I'm 
thinking it might be a really good idea to start an OASIS technical
committee on the subject, with the goal being a simple grammar in the
form of a DTD module to provide all Gutenberg texts with a markup to
contain such content. I'm guessing we'd probably want to use some form
of Dublin Core Element Set as a basis, rather than reinvent the wheel.

Does anybody have any difficulties with starting an OASIS TC to formalize
this effort? Would anyone like to participate? I have gotten the okay from
my management to do so, so we could get this ball arollin' fairly quickly
since we have 1. a basis in Dublin Core, and 2. a strong need to provide
the Gutenberg Project DTDs with such a product. 

I'm also involved with the topic map activity, so I might be able to 
provide liaison with that work. I think we might also get Norm involved, 
which would be great since this might reflect back into DocBook. Dunno, 
though, since he's pretty busy.

Opinions, support, flames, empty gum wrappers, etc. solicited...

Murray

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Murray Altheim                            <mailto:altheim&#x40;eng.sun.com>
XML Technology Center
Sun Microsystems, Inc., MS MPK17-102, 1601 Willow Rd., Menlo Park, CA 94025

   the honey bee is sad and cross and wicked as a weasel 
   and when she perches on you boss she leaves a little measle -- archy

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