P2Rx Topic Hub Functional Specifications

Approved 5/22/01

Introduction:

This document provides an overview of the P2Rx Topic Hub Project in terms of purpose, goals, audience, definition of parts, recognition, proposed uses, content sharing, authorship/copyright, and security issues. This overview references other guidance documents to describe specific parts of the project in more detail and should not be used separately. It is intended to describe the “what” and “why” portion of the project, not the “how”. The “Topic Hub Project” refers to the collection of many topics; a “topic hub” refers to a collection of resources on a particular topic.

Purpose

The P2Rx Topic Hub Project is intended to provide a topic-specific guide to collected and community-reviewed resources on the Internet. Topics will include sectors, materials, issues and concepts important to those promoting pollution prevention. Referenced resources will be placed within a uniform context within each topic hub, namely:

• Overview and Background of Topic
• Operations (or Major Issues)
• Reasons for Change
• Pollution Prevention Opportunities
• Where to Go For Help

For more definition of these sections, refer to Guidelines for Topic Hub Data Records and Subsections, http://www.p2rx.org/admin/GuidelineforTopicHubrec.htm.

Goals

• Provide an up-to-date quick study of the topic
• Provide a useful context to service providers
• Describe resources to allow searchers to quickly obtain accurate information according to their needs
• Provide comprehensive coverage of available resources on a topic (showing breadth of available resources and reducing duplication of effort)
• Serve a broad spectrum of service providers
• Collect, catalogue and make P2 information more available
• Market, refer to, and support P2 specialists
• Promote the diffusion and implementation of P2 practices

For more information on the intentions of a topic hub and responsibilities of a topic hub development team, refer to the Topic Hub Development Process Guide, and the Topic Hub Collection Development Policy.

Audience

The Topic Hub Project is being developed primarily to serve assistance providers as they assist their customers (businesses, manufacturers, and public agencies). These assistance providers include; P2 Specialists, Technical Assistance Programs, Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs), Small Business Assistance Programs (SBAPs), NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnerships (MEPs), Cooperative Extension Programs, trade organizations, professional organizations, tribes, educational organizations, local governments, consultants, and vendors. Therefore, hub navigation, link descriptions, search functions and resource reviews are directed more towards the service provider community. Resources referenced within the hub will typically be directed toward the end user or customer and contain information like “Top 10” or “Things To Do” lists. For more information on our audience: http://www.ateec.org/dacum22.html.

Definition of Parts
The Topic Hub Project consists of the following parts:

Project –collection of topic hubs

Topic Hub – database collection of annotated resources on a particular topic, and an accompanying guiding/informative narrative

Subsections of Topic - Overview and Background, Operations (or Major Issues), Reasons for Change, Pollution Prevention Opportunities, Where to Go For Help

Individual Resources:

Database or table of Information Resources - Described by: title, URL, description, source, resource type, date, core (Y/N), and topic hub subject.

Database or table of Entity Resources - Described by: organization name, address, telephone and fax number, email, URL, geographic service area, services offered, topic hub subject and program type.

Both entities and informational resources will be cataloged by some or all of the following: sector, material, process, and service (see Controlled Vocabulary Strategy for P2Rx Topic Hub Project)

Topic Hub Team Recognition

As described in the Topic Hub Development Process Guide, several entities are involved in creating a topic hub and appropriate credit will be given to each entity. Each level is restated here with the scope of credit due:

P2Rx – the network of centers funding development of the topic hub project. Will receive appropriate recognition whenever the project, an individual hub, or pieces of a hub are used.

Editor/Publisher Center – a P2Rx Center overseeing development of specific hubs. Editors/publishers of topic hubs will own the data they publish and it will be housed on their site unless they choose otherwise. The editor/publisher Center will be appropriately recognized whenever one of their particular hubs is republished or any pieces of the hub are used. A management document will be developed by P2Rx.

Author – may be an independent contractor working with a publishing P2Rx Center to develop hub content. Authors will be appropriately recognized whenever the hub with their content is republished.

Subject specialist/peer reviewer – suggests resources for inclusion and provides input into product development. Appropriate recognition will be worked out on a case by case basis. When a topic hub is developed by more than one P2Rx Center, the lead center will appropriately recognize the contributing Center whenever the hub is republished.

Appropriate Recognition

Appropriate recognition includes, but is not limited to, attaching a brief statement at the bottom of each page that is created by the Topic Hub editor/publisher(s). The statement will read: “Topic Hub created by ___(P2Rx Center Name)," or if there are multiple co-authors or collaborators, the statement will be drafted as the Centers wish it to appear. For example: “Topic Hub created by Great Lakes Regional Pollution Prevention Roundtable with assistance from Illinois EPA.”

Proposed Uses

P2Rx is a pollution prevention information dissemination network. P2Rx provides high-quality pollution prevention information of use to several audiences and promotes its use by these audiences. Through sharing content within P2Rx and with external groups, the Topic Hub Project can make a large impact on the pollution prevention community.

Software Based Content Sharing Within P2Rx Centers –

• The complete Topic Hub Project will be accessible through http://www.p2rx.org.
• The Topic Hub Project will be available for republishing on all P2Rx Center web sites.
• Centers republishing topic hubs to their site may use graphics, navigation schemes, etc. to give the topic hub a look and feel similar to the republishing Center’s web site while adhering to the agreed upon components of a Topic Hub. For components of a Topic Hub, visit http://www.p2rx.org/admin/GuidelineforTopicHubrec.htm.

Content Sharing External to P2Rx –

• Topic Hub Project may be shared as a whole with selected groups. The Administrative Group will decide by a vote with whom to share the Topic Hub Project as a whole and the terms of such sharing. A trading partner agreement (an agreement that would be negotiated between all parties wanting to share information) or a MOU will formalize these partnerships. In addition, USEPA maintains the right to authorize use of the materials for federal purposes.
• Individual Hubs (Non-Commercial Purposes) –Publishing Centers may choose to share their content with other partners external to P2Rx. Details for sharing this information will be worked out on a case-by -case basis (or will conform to the standard established by P2Rx). The Publishing Center will inform the Administrative Group of these sharing agreements.
• Individual Hubs (Commercial Purposes)-A Publishing Center may chose to enter an agreement with a for-profit organization wanting to pay for an Individual Hub. The Center must negotiate a trading partner agreement or MOU with the Administration Group.

Resources within a Hub and Regional Data:
P2Rx Centers who create topic hubs may use data compiled in the topic hub in other applications (outside of the standard framework of the topic hub) to support center activities.

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