Digital LibrariesDigital Libraries

Fall 2005, 11 October

Bharat MehraIS 520 (Organization and Representation of Information)

School of Information SciencesUniversity of Tennessee

For the DiscoverET.org websiteFor the DiscoverET.org website1.1. Provide comprehensive assessment /evaluation of the existing site and suggest Provide comprehensive assessment /evaluation of the existing site and suggest

improvements and alternative design solutions: Connie Steigenga, Thomas Moseley, improvements and alternative design solutions: Connie Steigenga, Thomas Moseley, Sara McCormick, Andy MadsonSara McCormick, Andy Madson

2. Present community-based information for a selected subject category like health, social 2. Present community-based information for a selected subject category like health, social services, or tourism: services, or tourism:

3. Present community-based information for a new subject category like Youth Resources or 3. Present community-based information for a new subject category like Youth Resources or Diversity Resources: Ronda Foust, Nadine Hawke, Kitt McKinlay, ElizabethDiversity Resources: Ronda Foust, Nadine Hawke, Kitt McKinlay, Elizabeth

4. Present community-based information for a new subject category on International Issues: 4. Present community-based information for a new subject category on International Issues:

5. Select one county in Tennessee and develop an IORP for presenting community-based 5. Select one county in Tennessee and develop an IORP for presenting community-based information for the county: Kelli Williams, Natalie Clewell, Jessica Gentry, Sarena information for the county: Kelli Williams, Natalie Clewell, Jessica Gentry, Sarena CleetonCleeton

6. Presenting community-based interactive communication and information-sharing interactive 6. Presenting community-based interactive communication and information-sharing interactive tools on the DiscoverET.org website: Alison Connor, Carrie Snesko, Elizabeth Koerbertools on the DiscoverET.org website: Alison Connor, Carrie Snesko, Elizabeth Koerber

7. Present community-based information for an Air Quality Forum. Group 1: Tim Lepczyk, 7. Present community-based information for an Air Quality Forum. Group 1: Tim Lepczyk, Patrick Wasley; Group 2: Desiree Fox, Jude Ferrara, Shannon NoblePatrick Wasley; Group 2: Desiree Fox, Jude Ferrara, Shannon Noble

8. Develop an IORP to include design templates incorporating Spanish language translation of 8. Develop an IORP to include design templates incorporating Spanish language translation of existing content and functionality to reach out to growing Hispanic populations: Jessica existing content and functionality to reach out to growing Hispanic populations: Jessica Minihan, Sarah Belisle, Dorothy OgdonMinihan, Sarah Belisle, Dorothy Ogdon

Digital LibrariesDigital Libraries

What does the digital library concept mean What does the digital library concept mean to youto youas a useras a useras an information professionalas an information professionalas an authoras an author

Is the Web a digital library? Why? Why not? Is the Web a digital library? Why? Why not?

Your definition or notion?Your definition or notion?

Digital LibrariesDigital Libraries

What is the role of a librarian or What is the role of a librarian or information professional? How has information professional? How has this role changed in the context of this role changed in the context of digital libraries? digital libraries?

The Web: Implications for DLsThe Web: Implications for DLs

• Ubiquitous information source: Why is the web “a much more engaging medium and teacher” than textbooks or a local librarian?

Identify pros and cons for specific situations in the different quadrants?

Finding Information on the Web Finding Information on the Web

Web Web directoriesdirectories for browsing for browsing Yahoo! -- human indexers/catalogersYahoo! -- human indexers/catalogersclassificatory structureclassificatory structure

Web Web search enginessearch engines for querying for queryingAltaVista, Google -- robots AltaVista, Google -- robots automatically generated indexesautomatically generated indexes

CombinationCombination of directory and engine of directory and engine

Paradigm shiftParadigm shift

Classic IRClassic IR Web IRWeb IR

CollectionCollectionprofessionalsprofessionalsselection policyselection policy

polling (robot) polling (robot) pushingpushing

RepresentationRepresentationdescriptiondescriptionaccess pointsaccess points

full textfull textmetadatametadata

SearchSearchalgorithmsalgorithms

master filemaster fileinverted indexesinverted indexes

non Booleannon Booleanproprietaryproprietary

InterfaceInterfacegood good functionalityfunctionalitycomplexcomplex

simplisticsimplistictrade offtrade off

Digital Library FeaturesDigital Library Features

• communitycommunity based users based users • extension and enhancement of classic extension and enhancement of classic

IRsIRs• digital digital resourcesresources are multimedia: text, are multimedia: text,

images, sounds, etc.images, sounds, etc.• technicaltechnical capabilities for creating, capabilities for creating,

searching, and using informationsearching, and using information• distributed using distributed using networksnetworks (the Web, etc.) (the Web, etc.)

Digital Library FeaturesDigital Library Features

• contentcontent of digital libraries includes of digital libraries includes data, metadata that describe various data, metadata that describe various aspects of the data aspects of the data

• linkslinks (or relations) to other data or (or relations) to other data or metadata (internal or external)metadata (internal or external)

• contextcontext portals to support individual portals to support individual users’ information needs and work users’ information needs and work tasks tasks

Digital Library Projects Digital Library Projects

Digital Libraries Initiatives Digital Libraries Initiatives

• phase II <phase II <http://www.dli2.nsf.gov/>http://www.dli2.nsf.gov/>

• LC American Memory Website <LC American Memory Website <http://memory.loc.govhttp://memory.loc.gov/>/>

standards standards <http://lcweb.loc.gov/standards/meta<http://lcweb.loc.gov/standards/metadata.html>data.html>

Example Digital LibrariesExample Digital Libraries

The National Science Digital LibraryThe National Science Digital Library

http://nsdl.org/http://nsdl.org/

Library portalsLibrary portals

extend and serve classrooms, offices, extend and serve classrooms, offices, laboratories, homes, and public laboratories, homes, and public spaces.spaces.

Critical Reflection (ignore)Critical Reflection (ignore)Pick up two items and apply the Dublin Core Metadata Element Set. Ponder Pick up two items and apply the Dublin Core Metadata Element Set. Ponder

and discuss in small groups:and discuss in small groups:• Goals for the metadata and users: Goals for the metadata and users: Are you clear about what you want to Are you clear about what you want to

achieve with this metadata? Are you clear about your users’ use of the achieve with this metadata? Are you clear about your users’ use of the resources?resources?

• Granularity:Granularity: What level of granularity is most appropriate to the items and user What level of granularity is most appropriate to the items and user needs? needs?

• Sources of info:Sources of info: Is it clear or even stated where you get your information? For Is it clear or even stated where you get your information? For example, if title is a field, is the cataloger told where to find that info? For example, if title is a field, is the cataloger told where to find that info? For example with a videotape- do you look on the label? The box? example with a videotape- do you look on the label? The box?

• Complexity of record creation:Complexity of record creation: Are special skills required to formulate the Are special skills required to formulate the records? Are the records designed to be created by the info ‘publisher’ or records? Are the records designed to be created by the info ‘publisher’ or centrally by service providers?centrally by service providers?

• Content:Content: The content of different metadata record formats can be compared The content of different metadata record formats can be compared from aspects of structure and syntax, but perhaps most important is an from aspects of structure and syntax, but perhaps most important is an evaluation of the usefulness and purpose of the info within them. How useful are evaluation of the usefulness and purpose of the info within them. How useful are the records you have created?the records you have created?

• Works well or not:Works well or not: What fields or characteristics work well (or do not work well) What fields or characteristics work well (or do not work well) in describing your objects?in describing your objects?

• Tweaking:Tweaking: How could/should the metadata be “tweaked” to accommodate your How could/should the metadata be “tweaked” to accommodate your needs?needs?

Critical Reflection (ignore)Critical Reflection (ignore)

For the two objects, each student creates an authority record For the two objects, each student creates an authority record for two fields identified in the Dublin Core set. for two fields identified in the Dublin Core set.

Identify issues in the process of compiling Identify issues in the process of compiling a) the authority record for the two particular info objects a) the authority record for the two particular info objects b) an authority file from the compiled authority recordb) an authority file from the compiled authority recordc) linking the authority file to the bibliographic system file c) linking the authority file to the bibliographic system file (authority system)(authority system)

Based on the issues discussed (as above), identify Based on the issues discussed (as above), identify a ‘system’ (or a digital library) and some of its a ‘system’ (or a digital library) and some of its characteristics that may help facilitate the above characteristics that may help facilitate the above functions. functions.

Information Theory (for DLs)Information Theory (for DLs)Joseph Goguen: A theory of information shouldJoseph Goguen: A theory of information should• Be useful for understanding and designing info systems Be useful for understanding and designing info systems

(or DLs)(or DLs)• Address the meanings that users give to events, Address the meanings that users give to events,

including social and political nuancesincluding social and political nuances• Address ethical issuesAddress ethical issues• Account for the fact that different individuals and groups Account for the fact that different individuals and groups

can construe meanings in very different wayscan construe meanings in very different ways

Joseph Goguen, “Towards a Social Ethical Theory of Information” in Social Joseph Goguen, “Towards a Social Ethical Theory of Information” in Social Science Research, Technical Systems and Cooperative Work, edited by Science Research, Technical Systems and Cooperative Work, edited by Geoffery Bowker, Les Gasser, Leigh Star and William Turner. (Erlbaum, 1997). Geoffery Bowker, Les Gasser, Leigh Star and William Turner. (Erlbaum, 1997).

Goguen’s Info Qualities Relevant to DLsGoguen’s Info Qualities Relevant to DLs1.1. Situated: Info can only be fully understood in relation to the particular, concrete Situated: Info can only be fully understood in relation to the particular, concrete

situation in which it actually occurssituation in which it actually occurs2.2. Local: Interpretations are constructed in some particular context, including a Local: Interpretations are constructed in some particular context, including a

particular time, place, and groupparticular time, place, and group3.3. Emergent: Info cannot be fully understood at the level of the individual, that is at Emergent: Info cannot be fully understood at the level of the individual, that is at

the level of the individual psychology, because it arises through ongoing the level of the individual psychology, because it arises through ongoing interactions with other people/technologiesinteractions with other people/technologies

4.4. Contingent: Interpretation of info depends upon current situation, which may Contingent: Interpretation of info depends upon current situation, which may include the current interpretation of prior eventsinclude the current interpretation of prior events

5.5. Embodied: Info is tied to documents/bodies in particular situations, so that the Embodied: Info is tied to documents/bodies in particular situations, so that the particular way that bodies are embedded in a situation may be essential to some particular way that bodies are embedded in a situation may be essential to some interpretationsinterpretations

6.6. Vague: In practice, info is only elaborated to the degree that it is useful to do so; Vague: In practice, info is only elaborated to the degree that it is useful to do so; the rest is grounded in intangible knowledgethe rest is grounded in intangible knowledge

7.7. Open: Info cannot in general be given a final and complete form, but must remain Open: Info cannot in general be given a final and complete form, but must remain open to revision in the light of future developmentsopen to revision in the light of future developments

““Wet” information: strongly situated, less mobileWet” information: strongly situated, less mobile““Dry” information: Weakly situated; more mobile Dry” information: Weakly situated; more mobile

Joseph Goguen, “Towards a Social Ethical Theory of Information” in Social Joseph Goguen, “Towards a Social Ethical Theory of Information” in Social Science Research, Technical Systems and Cooperative Work, edited by Science Research, Technical Systems and Cooperative Work, edited by Geoffery Bowker, Les Gasser, Leigh Star and William Turner. (Erlbaum, 1997). Geoffery Bowker, Les Gasser, Leigh Star and William Turner. (Erlbaum, 1997).

Issues of Text Representation in DLsIssues of Text Representation in DLs

Storing textual materials is related to its: Storing textual materials is related to its: • Structure (characters, words, paragraphs, headings): Structure (characters, words, paragraphs, headings):

Represented by mark-up, e.g., Standard Generalized Represented by mark-up, e.g., Standard Generalized Markup Language Markup Language

• Appearance (choice of format, size of font, margins, Appearance (choice of format, size of font, margins, line spacing, how headings are represented, location line spacing, how headings are represented, location of figures)” Page-description languages precisely of figures)” Page-description languages precisely describe the appearance, e.g., TeX, PostScript, describe the appearance, e.g., TeX, PostScript, Portable Document Format (PDF)Portable Document Format (PDF)

                                                                      

Alternative renderings of a single document

Converting TextConverting Text

• Scanning: Optical character recognitionScanning: Optical character recognition

• Encoding characters: ASCII, UnicodeEncoding characters: ASCII, Unicode

• Document type definitions (DTDs) in the Document type definitions (DTDs) in the Text Encoding Initiative (TEI), Encoded Text Encoding Initiative (TEI), Encoded Archival Description (EAD)Archival Description (EAD)

Three General Types of Metadata Three General Types of Metadata

1. Object-descriptor metadata (Dublin Core)Designed to describe global characteristics of entire objects with external references

2. Internal/Structural Metadata (HTML, XML, RDF)Designed to describe internal semantic structure of objects with internal and external references

3. Display Metadata (HTML, StyleSheets)Designed to describe how objects or parts of objects should be visualized or displayed. Not necessarily related to semantic structure

Critical Reflection 3Critical Reflection 3

In pairs identify a subject domain and In pairs identify a subject domain and select at least five items to form a select at least five items to form a template design for a digital library. template design for a digital library. Brainstorm various topics/aspects Brainstorm various topics/aspects covered in class that will be pertinent for covered in class that will be pertinent for creating an effective information creating an effective information organization and representation scheme organization and representation scheme for your digital library. for your digital library.

Assignments Assignments

• Journal WritingJournal Writing

• Exercise 2Exercise 2