Mapping subjectivity: performing people-centered vocabulary alignment

This paper describes a mapping of linked data vocabularies in the area of person-related information. Aligning vocabulary terms may help curb the problem of property proliferation that occurs in linked data environments. It also facilitates the process of choosing semantics for vocabulary extensions and integration in the context of linked data applications. Although a work in progress, this investigation would provide support for semantic integration and for knowledge sharing and reuse in the area of personal information representation. It also offers an opportunity to reflect on a new generation of knowledge organization systems such as linked data vocabularies that have started to populate the web and are converging with new representation models and discovery tools in libraries and other cultural heritage institutions

Ontologies in the Time of Linked Data

This paper discusses some of the methodological issues one encounters when creating and using ontologies in the rapidly expanding Linked Open Data (LOD) landscape. Over the years the notion of applied ontologies has transitioned from that of a logically formalized knowledge system with varying degrees of inferencing power to that of a lightweight knowledge representation tool. This shift is reflected in the current lexicon where different actors in the LOD community use the term ontology interchangeably with more generic terms like vocabulary or even namespace or data schema. Applied ontologies have been a key area of research in the context of Semantic Web initiative since the late 1990s. The Semantic Web has recently found a new stream of development in the Linked Data initiative, which is considered its natural evolution (Allemang and Hendler, 2011). While a good deal of literature has been devoted to investigating ontology engineering for the Semantic Web, not enough attention has yet been paid to understanding the nature and role that ontologies play in the linked data context, especially from the lens of knowledge organization research. Based on our ongoing work creating Linked Open Data applications and services for digital resources in the domain of the performing arts, we describe methodological steps and lessons learned in line with the spirit of the linked data initiative, where an agile and pragmatic approach to development is combined with the practice of learning from one another

Young peoples' views of online historical archives

Digitized collections are ‘a rich source of instructional material for history teachers’ [1 p314] but it has been noted these ‘remained largely underused’. There is ‘a growing interest in both improving the user experience and in justifying the creation of digital collections to multiple stakeholders’ [2 p339]. Within the UK an estimated £130m has been invested in digitisation projects [3]. Re-cent changes to the UK National Curriculum for history have placed greater emphasis upon the importance of understanding methods of historical enquiry and the use of evidence. Therefore, the digitized collections created by this investment should be a vital classroom tool. This study set out to investigate within the UK the level of awareness of these resources and their value to young learners aged 8-16 years. There were two stages to this qualitative study. Stage one was the delivery of a workshop which introduced young learners to a range of digital archives. After this the young people were given a period of time to use the online archives and explore the difference forms of historical evidence. Stage two involved focus groups with a sample of the young people during which participants were asked to discuss their end-user experience. Key findings included enhanced personal learning experience, development of a personal connection to the past, and identification of issues related to usability and practical application in a classroom learning context

A User-Centered Approach to the Development of a History Domain Ontology: Helping Teachers Use Digital Primary Sources

The use of primary source materials is recognized as key to supporting inquiry-based history and social studies education. The extensive digitization of library, museum, and other cultural heritage collections represents an important resource for teachers as they strive to develop their students. critical thinking skills. Yet, searching and selecting digital primary sources appropriate for classroom use can be difficult and time-consuming. This study investigates the design requirements and the potential usefulness of a domain-specific ontology to facilitate access to, and use of, a collection of digital primary source materials developed by the University Library of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH). During a three-phase study an ontology model was designed and evaluated with the involvement of social studies teachers identified as the primary community of end users. The findings revealed that the design of the ontology was appropriate to support the information needs of the teachers and was perceived as a potentially useful tool to enhance access and facilitate inquiry-based instruction. The primary contribution of this dissertation is the introduction of an approach to ontology development that is user-centered and designed to facilitate access to digital cultural heritage materials. This study also contributes to the growing body of literature on teachers. use of digital libraries and primary source materials, especially in the area of social studies education

E-books in academia: Expectations and challenges

This paper reports on the results of a pilot study conducted as part of a larger project aimed at understanding the evolving role of e-books in academia. The study used a survey, a scenario-based usability test, and interviews to collect data on e-book reading habits, specific user expectations, and issues related to the usability of an academic library interface for e-book access. Future work will investigate factors affecting user preferences and patterns of use in context, including routine use of academic e-books.published or submitted for publicationis peer reviewe

The Drawings of the Florentine Painters: From Print Catalog to Linked Open Data

The Drawings of The Florentine Painters project created the first online database of Florentine Renaissance drawings by applying Linked Open Data (LOD) techniques to a foundational text of the same name, first published by Bernard Berenson in 1903 (revised and expanded editions, 1938 and 1961). The goal was to make Berenson’s catalog information—still an essential information resource today—available in a machine­readable format, allowing researchers to access the source content through open data services. This paper provides a technical overview of the methods and processes applied in the conversion of Berenson’s catalog to LOD using the CIDOC­CRM ontology; it also discusses the different phases of the project, focusing on the challenges and issues of data transformation and publishing. The project was funded by the Samuel H. Kress Foundation and organized by Villa I Tatti, The Harvard University Center for Italian Renaissance Studies. Catalog: http://florentinedrawings.itatti.harvard.edu Data Endpoint: http://data.itatti.harvard.ed