Math-Net - a model for information and communication systems in sciences

The mathematical community has started the Math-Net initiative, an activity building up a distributed, efficient and user-driven information and communication system for mathematics. Math-Net is intended to organize and enhance the free flow of information in mathematics. The relevant information should be available at the fingertips of the user. Math-Net is based on the information provided by the Math-Net members on their local servers, e.g. preprints, information about research and teaching, software, persons, events, journals and so like. The Math-Net project in Germany, the origin of the current international Math-Net activities, has developed metadata sets and schemes for a structured description of the documents. It was one of the first projects using the Dublin Core metadata set. Local information coordinators are responsible for the information offered by the Math-Net members. They work within Math-Net as volunteers. The information on the local servers is gathered and accessible by the Math-Net services, e.g. SIGMA and the Navigator (overall services within Math-Net) or specialized services as MPRESS for preprints, PERSONA MATHEMATICA to find mathematicians and mathJournals for electronic journals. In this paper we describe how to build a so called secondary homepage, the Math-Net page of a department. The Math-Net page is a standardized and normalized entry point for a mathematical department. Math-Net is organized under the aegis of the International Mathematical Union (IMU). The Committee on Electronic Information and Communication steers all Math-Net activities. The main activities are the development of - a personal infrastructure - methods and tools for content analysis - recommendations and standards for Math-Net - Math-Net services Math-Net could be a prototype for new information and communication systems in sciences. More information about Math-Net is available under http://www.math-net.orgProceedings of the 7th International Conference of European University Information Systems, EUNIS2001, 28.03.2001 - 30.03.2001, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, pp 44-4