Information Management - Discovery AGLS Metadata
Guideline
5. AGLS element description and usage
examples
5.8 Availability
This element is not intended as a search point. This element will
be displayed to the consumer as significant information regarding
the availability of the resource.
| Definition |
How the resource can be obtained or accessed, or
contact information |
| HTML element name |
AGLS.Availability |
| XML element name |
agls:availability |
| Obligation |
Mandatory for descriptions of offline resources, ie.
where there is no Identifier element |
| Encoding scheme |
X.500 Directory Service protocol (see
Part 2 Section 9 Using the X.500 Directory Service
protocol)
AGLS Availability - developed for describing off-and
online resources |
| Default value |
N/A |
5.8.1 General
The Availability element is primarily used for non-electronic
resources, or services to provide information on how consumers may
obtain physical access to a resource or service. The content
structure of the element can include components listed below, or a
free-text description of how to obtain the resource. It is used for
resources that are not available online. AGLS metadata records can
be created for each service, such as a telephone service or a
specific form or service that can only be completed by physically
attending a shopfront or office location.
5.8.2 Qualifiers (AGLS Availability encoding scheme)
AGLS describes resource accessibility using the following
characteristics of the AGLS Availability encoding scheme:
| Use... |
To describe... |
| personalName |
The name of a person making the resource available |
| corporateName |
The name of an organisation making the resource
available |
| jurisdiction |
The legal jurisdiction of the agent eg NSW
For other values, see the AGLS Jurisdiction scheme (Part
2 Section 7.8 AGLS Jurisdiction scheme). |
| contact |
Contact details for the agent making the resource
available. Can include an official title. Typically
includes a phone number. |
| address |
Street or postal address for the agent making the
resource available. |
| email |
Email address for the agent making the resource
available. |
| hours |
Hours during which the resource can be accessed at
the locations identified in address components |
| cost |
Cost of obtaining the resource |
| postcode |
Australian postcode(s) where the resource is
available. Typically used in describing availability of
services. |
All of these components are optional and ordering is not
significant. All of the components may be repeated. For more
information on the AGLS Availability scheme see
Part 2 Section 7.7 AGLS Availability Scheme.
5.8.3 Describing services
Qualifiers or structure used depends on client needs and the
service itself. If a resource is a service, specific requirements
are given. Full details of how the service can be obtained or
contact information is preferred. It is important that metadata
provided in this element supports both direct and mediated searching
(eg call center operator). Repeat the Availability element to show
multiple access points (eg combined bill paying through RTA and
Australia Post). Fees or pricing may be included at the agency's
discretion but may be inappropriate if a complex schedule of pricing
exists.
If a resource is available both as an online and offline service,
the DC.Identifier element will be used to reference the online
resource. The Availability element is used to identify where a user
may be able to access or obtain the relevant service offline.
5.8.4 HTML examples
Unqualified
Youth suicide prevention
<meta name="AGLS.Availability" content="Telephone counselling,
information and referral services for youth suicide (24-hour
emergency response), Kids Help Line Freecall Tel. 1800 551 800">
Gamblers Help
<meta name="AGLS.Availability" content="G-line NSW Problem
Gamblers Help Line - 24-hour telephone counselling service Tel. 1800
633 635">
Qualified
Births, Deaths and Marriages: Births
<meta name="AGLS.Availability" scheme="AglsAvail" content="corporateName=Registry
of Births, Deaths and Marriages; jurisdiction=NSW">