From FRBR to FRBROO through CIDOC CRM… International Symposium on the Future of Information Organization Research October 4-5, 2010, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan From FRBR to FRBROO through CIDOC CRM… A Common Ontology for Cultural Heritage Information Patrick Le Bœuf, National Library of France

I. Background

1990s: 2 simultaneous processes 1991-1997 IFLA Development of a conceptual model for bibliographic information: FRBR 1996 ICOM CIDOC Development of a conceptual model for museum information: CIDOC CRM

FRBR “Functional Requirements for Bibliographic Records” An entity-relationship (ER) model Primary goals: explain the content of library catalogs, provide a scientific basis for simplified cataloging Environment: highly standardized, relatively homogeneous (ISBD, MARC) Models products, not processes Chinese translation: <http://www.ifla.org/files/cataloguing/frbr/frbr-zh.pdf>

CIDOC CRM “Conceptual Reference Model” An object-oriented (OO) model Primary goal: enable information exchange and integration between heterogeneous sources of cultural heritage information Environment: relatively heterogeneous Models processes resulting in products, along with products Chinese translation: should be available by the end of October 2010 (Heritage Conservation Center of the National Heritage Board of Singapore)

Cultural heritage information Both libraries and museums record, manage and publish cultural heritage information Borders can be blurred (art prints…) Why not bring both models together?...

Semantic Web, Linked Data… The Web has evolved: Express data as RDF statements Relate data to ontologies Increases the interest in developing a common ontology for library and museum information

A cross-domain effort 2003: Working Group on FRBR/CIDOC CRM Harmonization Members from both communities Goal: rephrase FRBR as an extension to CIDOC CRM using same methodology as CIDOC CRM reusing basic structures from CIDOC CRM occasionally modifying CIDOC CRM 2009: publication of FRBROO version 1.0

Main features of FRBR (1/3) Her book was read throughout the world Her book is in Chinese I ordered that book The book is on the bookshelf Work is realized through Expression is embodied in Manifestation is exemplified by Item

Main features of FRBR (2/3) Work created is realized through Person Corporate Body Expression realized is embodied in produced Manifestation owns is exemplified by Item

Main features of FRBR (3/3) is about Object Event Place Concept Work created is realized through Expression Person realized is embodied in produced Corporate Body Manifestation owns is exemplified by Item

Main features of CIDOC CRM E55 Type serves to categorize any of E28 Conceptual Object E39 Actor E18 Physical Thing E5 Event affects took part in identifies any of E41 Appellation E7 Activity occurred at some time during occurred in E53 Place E52 Time-Span

Main activities in CIDOC CRM P11 had participant (participated in) E7 Activity E39 Actor P14 carried out by (performed) E65 Creation E11 Modification (etc.) E12 Production World of ideas Physical World

Dates in CIDOC CRM e.g.: Ming Dynasty 明朝 e.g.: 1368-1644 E7 Activity P4 has time-span (is time-span of) E52 Time-Span P78 is identified by (identifies) E49 Time Appellation e.g.: Ming Dynasty 明朝 E50 Date e.g.: 1368-1644

II. How to read, understand, and use FRBROO <http://www.cidoc-crm.org/frbr_drafts.html>

The ingredients of FRBROO Classes, identified by: a code, e.g. F1 a name, e.g. Work  F1 Work Properties, identified by: a code, e.g. R2 a name, e.g. is derivative of (has derivative)  F1 Work R2 is derivative of (has derivative) F1 Work Names are not sufficient – read the scope notes! No “attributes” – only “properties” between and among classes

Sharper definitions than in FRBR F1 Work: a sum of concepts F2 Expression: a sum of signs 3 meanings for “Work”: all concepts conveyed by each individual Expression: F14 Individual Work all concepts common to various Expressions and serving to identify “bibliographic families”: F15 Complex Work the concept of adding something to Expressions (e.g. by aggregating them): F16 Container Work

Sharper definitions than in FRBR FRBRER: Manifestation = “the physical embodiment of an expression of a work”; a single physical exemplar or a set of multiple copies ambiguous definition! physical or abstract? FRBROO: Manifestation was split into: F3 Manifestation Product Type = an abstract “type” exemplified by “identical” physical copies F4 Manifestation Singleton = a unique physical carrier (manuscript, painting, master recording…)

From processes to products (1/2) E7 Activity E65 Creation E12 Production (of conceptual things) (of physical things) F27 Work Conception F28 Expression Creation F32 Carrier Production Event = Having the initial idea for a Work = Simultaneously creating a new Expression and producing a unique carrier for that Expression = Producing Items (copies of a publication)

From processes to products (2/2) F32 Carrier Production Event F27 Work Conception F28 Expression Creation R28 produced (was produced by) F30 Publication Event R16 initiated (was initiated by) R17 created (was created by) F1 Work F2 Expression F3 Manifestation Product Type R24 created (was created through) R7 is example of (has example) R14 incorporates (is incorporated in) F24 Publication Expression R6 carries (is carried by) F5 Item

Example: Calligraphy F22 Self-Contained Expression R17 created (was created by) F22 Self-Contained Expression F28 Expression Creation instance = also an instance of: R14 incorporates (is incorporated in) P14 carried out by (performed) E33 Linguistic Object E39 Actor F22 Self-Contained Expression (The author, emperor Qianlong 乾隆 ) R3 is realized in (realizes) R14 incorporates (is incorporated in) (The calligrapher, Wang Youdun 汪由敦 ) E39 Actor F16 Container Work F22 Self-Contained Expression R17 created (was created by) P14 carried out by (performed) instance = also an instance of: F28 Expression Creation E38 Image

How FRBROO can be used FRBROO can be used: to store bibliographic information in the form of RDF triples available for Semantic Web applications to integrate bibliographic information in mediation systems, where it can be used along other information sources

Some people who expressed their interest for FRBROO: The European project CASPAR (Cultural, Artistic and Scientific knowledge for Preservation, Access and Retrieval): http://www.icsrim.org.uk/caspar The Perseus Digital Library, e.g. http://www.fragmentarytexts.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/Fragmentary-texts-Ontologies.pdf The TEI Ontologies Special Interest Group: http://wiki.tei-c.org/index.php/SIG:Ontologies ArcheoInf (Informationzsentrum für die Archäologie): http://www.archeoinf.de/veranstaltungen/beiratstreffen-am-30102008/dokumentenrepositorium etc. (e.g. http://www.ifla.org/files/hq/papers/ifla76/93-forster-zh.pdf)

III. By way of conclusion

Cultural biases in conceptual modeling? CIDOC CRM and FRBROO are introduced as “universal” conceptual models However, they are just another Western product: how do they fit Asian conceptions? Is the notion of “Work” as defined in FRBROO satisfying according to Chinese thought? Is such a conceptualization as FRBROO acceptable in non-Western environments?