Searching and browsing multiple subject gateways in the Renardus Service (Michael Day, UKOLN, University of Bath) Searching and browsing multiple subject gateways in the Renardus Service Michael Day UKOLN, University of Bath RC33 6th International Conference on Social Science Methodology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 16-20 August 2004 http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/ 6th International Conference on Social Science Methodology, Amsterdam, 2004 RC33 Sixth International Conference on Social Science Methodology, Amsterdam, 16-20 August 2004

Outline Subject gateways The Renardus Service Issues Future potential Searching and browsing multiple subject gateways in the Renardus Service (Michael Day, UKOLN, University of Bath) Outline Subject gateways The Renardus Service Cross-searching Cross-browsing Issues Future potential 6th International Conference on Social Science Methodology, Amsterdam, 2004 RC33 Sixth International Conference on Social Science Methodology, Amsterdam, 16-20 August 2004

What are subject gateways? (1) Discovery services that give access to high-quality Web resources: Selective (published criteria) Typically based on resource description (metadata) Provides users with search and browse facilities Use subject classification systems for subject browsing 6th International Conference on Social Science Methodology, Amsterdam, 2004

What are subject gateways? (2) An example: Resource Discovery Network (UK) Includes the Social Science Information Gateway (SOSIG) Pioneer of the subject gateway concept Now a mature service (>25K resources) run by the Institute of Learning and Research Technology (ILRT) at the University of Bristol http://www.sosig.ac.uk/ 6th International Conference on Social Science Methodology, Amsterdam, 2004

RDN Social Science Information Gateway (August 2004) http://www.sosig.ac.uk/ 6th International Conference on Social Science Methodology, Amsterdam, 2004

What is the Renardus Service? A broker service that integrates access to European subject gateways (all subjects) Developed by a research project funded 2000-2002 by the European Commission as part of its Information Society Technologies (IST) programme Since 2002, managed by participating gateways through the Renardus Consortium Operational service hosted by the Goettingen State and University Library (SUB) http://www.renardus.org/ 6th International Conference on Social Science Methodology, Amsterdam, 2004

Services participating in Renardus DAINet - German Agricultural Information Network DE Denmark's Electronic Research Library (DEF) DK DutchESS - Dutch Electronic Subject Service NL Finnish Virtual Library (FVL), NOVAGate FI Online dissertations (Die Deutsche Bibliothek) Resource Discovery Network (RDN) UK SSGFI gateways at SUB Goettingen (Anglistik Guide, Geo-Guide, History Guide, MathGuide) 6th International Conference on Social Science Methodology, Amsterdam, 2004

Cross-searching Searches across all participating services: Uses the Z39.50 protocol Services provide metadata that conforms to the Renardus "application profile": Based on the Dublin Core Metadata Element Set (DCMES) Added element: Country (of origin) Mandatory elements:Identifier, Title, Description, Subject, … 6th International Conference on Social Science Methodology, Amsterdam, 2004

Cross-browsing (1) Renardus needed to provide subject browse access across all services Subject gateways use many different subject schemes for browsing Some 'home-grown' Others based on (or adapted from) standards (e.g., DDC, LCC, UDC, MSC, Nederlandse Basisclassificatie) Also some variation in the depth of browsing structure (between 1 and 5 levels), although most are shallow 6th International Conference on Social Science Methodology, Amsterdam, 2004

Cross-browsing (2) Renardus chose to map local schemes to a universal classification scheme - the Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC): Available online (WebDewey) Covers all subjects, is frequently updated, has global use, etc. The project negotiated a research license from OCLC Forest Press 6th International Conference on Social Science Methodology, Amsterdam, 2004

Classification mapping (1) General approach: Mapping to local browse system, not to individual resources The mapping is one-way only, from the DDC to the local browsing system Mappings move from top levels of browse structures before moving progressively down it 6th International Conference on Social Science Methodology, Amsterdam, 2004

Classification mapping (2) Mapping relationships: Simple equivalence between terms not expected Five mapping relationships Fully equivalent Narrower equivalent Broader equivalent Major overlap Minor overlap 6th International Conference on Social Science Methodology, Amsterdam, 2004

Classification mapping (3) Syntax: LN (Local classification notation) LC (Local classification caption) RL (Relationship code, i.e. =, >, <, MJ, or MN) DN (DDC notation) DC (DDC caption) UR (Local browsing URL for the class) NT (Notes) :RE: (Record end) 6th International Conference on Social Science Methodology, Amsterdam, 2004

Classification mapping (4) Technical solutions: Mapping tool developed by the German CARMEN project (CarmenX) Participating gateways provide a machine-readable version of the classification scheme in use The tool (together with WebDewey) facilitates the production of the mapping information in the correct syntax 6th International Conference on Social Science Methodology, Amsterdam, 2004

[Renardus Mapping Tool] 6th International Conference on Social Science Methodology, Amsterdam, 2004

Using the mapping information In Renardus, the DDC mapping information provides: The basis of the cross-browse feature Information for the advanced search feature, e.g. search by DDC Classification The DDC browse structure forms the core part of the Renardus Service Web page [Next slide …] 6th International Conference on Social Science Methodology, Amsterdam, 2004

6th International Conference on Social Science Methodology, Amsterdam, 2004

Cross-browsing in Renardus Based on a two-step process first browsing within the DDC structure on the Renardus Web pages Then linking directly to the browse structures in local gateways Called "Browse and jump" Interface issues Visual inconsistency No clear path back to Renardus from the local gateways 6th International Conference on Social Science Methodology, Amsterdam, 2004

Navigational support Need for additional navigational support in large browsing structures Renardus developed some experimental features: Searching for a different start page Graphical navigation overview Merge 6th International Conference on Social Science Methodology, Amsterdam, 2004

[Graphical Navigation Overview] 6th International Conference on Social Science Methodology, Amsterdam, 2004

Issues Sustainability Technology developments EU-funded project, no significant funding to develop the service further Technology developments Renardus cross-search currently based on Z39.50 New distributed search technologies now available: SRW Search/Retrieve Web Service OAI-PMH - already used for cross-searching within the RDN 6th International Conference on Social Science Methodology, Amsterdam, 2004

Future potential (1) Multilinguality Because DDC has been translated into many languages, it is possible to add other language versions of the browse system into Renardus Automatic classification support for the mapping process Managing the mapping information is a big commitment for participating services Terminology services Web services that combine knowledge organisation systems and vocabularies - could replace custom-built mappings in Renardus 6th International Conference on Social Science Methodology, Amsterdam, 2004

Future potential (2) Web archiving initiatives Not just describing Web resources, but collecting them for future use (long term preservation) Two main approaches to collection: Selective approach Selection, negotiation of rights, harvesting Used by some national libraries and archives, also for special collections (e.g. political parties, elections) Automatic harvesting approach Robot-based Used by the Internet Archive, some national libraries, etc. 6th International Conference on Social Science Methodology, Amsterdam, 2004

Future potential (3) Web-archiving (continued) The selective approach has some commonality with current subject gateway practice e.g., The need for selection criteria and descriptive metadata This may be a possible area for collaboration in the future … and of interest to social scientists 6th International Conference on Social Science Methodology, Amsterdam, 2004

Further information: Renardus Service: http://www.renardus.org/ Social Science Information Gateway: http://www.sosig.ac.uk/ UKOLN: http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/ 6th International Conference on Social Science Methodology, Amsterdam, 2004

Thank-you for your attention!