2 research outputs found
Integration of distributed terminology resources to facilitate subject cross-browsing for library portal systems
With the increase in the number of distributed library information resources, users
may have to interact with different user interfaces, learn to switch their mental models
between these interfaces, and familiarise themselves with controlled vocabularies
used by different resources. For this reason, library professionals have developed
library portals to integrate these distributed information resources, and assist end-users
in cross-accessing distributed resources via a single access point in their own
library. There are two important subject-based services that a library portal system
might be able to provide. The first is a federated search service, which refers to a
process where a user can input a query to cross-search a number of information
resources. The second is a subject cross-browsing service, which can offer a
knowledge navigation tree to link subject schemes used by distributed resources.
However, the development of subject cross-searching and browsing services has been
impeded by the heterogeneity of different KOS (Knowledge Organisation System)
used by different information resources. Due to the lack of mappings between
different KOS, it is impossible to offer a subject cross-browsing service for a library
portal system. [Continues.
Integration of distributed terminology resources to facilitate subject cross-browsing for library portal systems
Purpose ā The paper aims to develop a prototype middleware framework between different
terminology resources in order to provide a subject cross-browsing service for library portal systems.
Design/methodology/approach ā Nine terminology experts were interviewed to collect
appropriate knowledge to support the development of a theoretical framework for the research.
Based on this, a simpliļ¬ed software-based prototype system was constructed incorporating the
knowledge acquired. The prototype involved mappings between the computer science schedule of the
Dewey Decimal Classiļ¬cation (which acted as a spine) and two controlled vocabularies, UKAT and
ACM Computing Classiļ¬cation. Subsequently, six further experts in the ļ¬eld were invited to evaluate
the prototype system and provide feedback to improve the framework.
Findings ā The major ļ¬ndings showed that, given the large variety of terminology resources
distributed throughout the web, the proposed middleware service is essential to integrate technically
and semantically the different terminology resources in order to facilitate subject cross-browsing.
A set of recommendations are also made, outlining the important approaches and features that support
such a cross-browsing middleware service.
Originality/value ā Cross-browsing features are lacking in current library portal meta-search
systems. Users are therefore deprived of this valuable retrieval provision. This research investigated
the case for such a system and developed a prototype to ļ¬ll this gap