Collection-level description: metadata of the future?

The potential for digital library growth has recently drawn into question the ability of users to navigate large distributed and heterogeneous collections. This paper attempts to summarise some of the potential benefits to be derived through the implementation of collection-level descriptions for both user resource discovery and institutional collection management. In particular, the concept of "functional granularity" is introduced and some related issues are briefly explored

The nature of information in the 21st century : conundrums for the informatics community?

Purpose - With the proliferation of electronic information via the web a further distension of the unique characteristics of information has been witnessed. With seismic developments occurring in such a short period of time, it seems prudent to consider the very nature of information and to assess whether this accelerated growth has implications for the work of the informatics community and the information society. Design/methodology/approach - The paper begins by revisiting and refreshing the unique characteristics of information via a reappraisal of the relevant literature. These characteristics are then contextualised within the new economy and traditional economic theory. Once these unique characteristics have been examined, the author discusses how the nature of information in the twenty-first century presents the informatics community with new and difficult challenges. Findings - The challenges posed by the unique nature of information demand a definite response on the part of the informatics community, including the creation of innovative new models to accommodate information's inherent characteristics. Additionally, as the nature of information evolves yet further and ICT innovations accelerate, ever more adaptable skills will be required by the end user in order that value be derived from information. Practical implications - Outcomes and conclusions addressed in the paper may inform the informatics community generally, but will specifically inform the practice of information managers and librarians, and offer ways of assisting them in arriving at holistic decisions with respect to service provision. Originality/value - The paper is a contribution to the debate on the precise nature of information and offers new perspectives on how the informatics community should view information in the twenty-first century

Library systems: the trends, the developments, the future

This article introduces some of the latest developments and trends taking place with respect to library systems, and makes some informed judgements on what the future holds

Developing the Scottish cooperative infrastructure: the what, who, where, when and why of SPEIR

Brief article describing SPEIR (pronounced "speer"): "Scottish Portals for Education, Information and Research". SPEIR is intended to develop an environment to underpin Scottish portals, creating the basis for: "a coherent virtual learning, information and research landscape for all Scottish citizens, collaboratively built and maintained via an agreed country-wide, standards-based, globally interoperable, co-operative infrastructure"

Analysis of equivalence mapping for terminology services

This paper assesses the range of equivalence or mapping types required to facilitate interoperability in the context of a distributed terminology server. A detailed set of mapping types were examined, with a view to determining their validity for characterizing relationships between mappings from selected terminologies (AAT, LCSH, MeSH, and UNESCO) to the Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC) scheme. It was hypothesized that the detailed set of 19 match types proposed by Chaplan in 1995 is unnecessary in this context and that they could be reduced to a less detailed conceptually-based set. Results from an extensive mapping exercise support the main hypothesis and a generic suite of match types are proposed, although doubt remains over the current adequacy of the developing Simple Knowledge Organization System (SKOS) Core Mapping Vocabulary Specification (MVS) for inter-terminology mapping

Terminology server for improved resource discovery: analysis of model and functions

This paper considers the potential to improve distributed information retrieval via a terminologies server. The restriction upon effective resource discovery caused by the use of disparate terminologies across services and collections is outlined, before considering a DDC spine based approach involving inter-scheme mapping as a possible solution. The developing HILT model is discussed alongside other existing models and alternative approaches to solving the terminologies problem. Results from the current HILT pilot are presented to illustrate functionality and suggestions are made for further research and development

GDL: a model infrastructure for a regional digital library

This brief article describes the early days of the Glasgow Digital Library (GDL), when it was a cross-sectoral and city-wide collaborative initiative involving Strathclyde, Glasgow and Caledonian Universities, as well as Glasgow City Libraries and Archives and the Glasgow Colleges Group

Disambiguating Yourself : Online Identity Management for Researchers - A Quick User Guide

The citation impact of academic authors is normally analysed using one or more of the following tools: Scopus (or SciVal, based on Scopus data), Web of Science, or Google Scholar. University ranking tables, such as the THES World University Rankings, also rely on citation data derived from these tools. It is therefore important that citation data compiled by these systems are as accurate as possible. Strathclyde researchers should therefore ensure they maintain their online identities within key research intelligence tools thus guaranteeing they receive academic credit for their research outputs. When an author publishes for the first time they are automatically assigned a Scopus ID (by Scopus - Elsevier) and/or a ResearcherID (by Web or Science – Thomson-Reuters). For name disambiguation reasons, identifying authors correctly can be problematic for Scopus and Web of Science and this can often mean that citations are either omitted or misassigned for outputs that belong to an individual’s publication history. This issue is often compounded by the numerous institutional affiliations authors may acquire during their career which, when combined with challenges surrounding name disambiguation, can make the correct assignation of citations very difficult. Sometimes authors may find that they have several identities within Scopus or Web Science thereby diluting their overall citation impact. Fortunately most of the above noted tools recognise that their data can be inaccurate and all therefore provide functionality such that authors can update data held about their research outputs

An analysis of bookkeeping duties

Thesis (M.A.)--Boston University, 1948. This item was digitized by the Internet Archive

Mobility of antimony, arsenic and lead at a former mine, Glendinning, Scotland

Elevated concentrations of antimony (Sb), arsenic (As) and lead (Pb) in upland organic-rich soils have resulted from past Sb mining activities at Glendinning, southern Scotland. Transfer of these elements into soil porewaters was linked to the production and leaching of dissolved organic matter and to leaching of spoil material. Sb was predominantly present in truly dissolved (< 3 kDa) forms whilst As and Pb were more commonly associated with large Fe-rich/organic colloids. The distinctive porewater behaviour of Sb accounts for its loss from deeper sections of certain cores and its transport over greater distances down steeper sections of the catchment. Although Sb and As concentrations decreased with increasing distance down a steep gully from the main spoil heap, elevated concentrations (~ 6-8 and 13-20 μg L− 1, respectively) were detected in receiving streamwaters. Thus, only partial attenuation occurs in steeply sloping sections of mining-impacted upland organic-rich soils and so spoil-derived contamination of surface waters may continue over time periods of decades to centuries