User-based indexing: a leap of faith or a descent into the abyss? Charlotte Smith

Flickr

Party

Party?

Computer

Computer?

Tags on Flickr Uncontrolled (problem of variant spellings, lack of equivalent terms, homographs, synonyms etc.) Uncontrolled (problem of variant spellings, lack of equivalent terms, homographs, synonyms etc.) Unmediated Unmediated Tags used not always informational to all Tags used not always informational to all Relevant retrieval lies in the mind of the image’s ‘author’ Relevant retrieval lies in the mind of the image’s ‘author’

LibraryThing

LibraryThing Really useful for organising your own book lists and browsing for new reads Really useful for organising your own book lists and browsing for new reads Again, uncontrolled vocabulary may lead to lack of precision Again, uncontrolled vocabulary may lead to lack of precision Each reader conducting a subject analysis, resulting in overwhelming tag clouds Each reader conducting a subject analysis, resulting in overwhelming tag clouds

‘Not read’ tag: blessing

‘Not read’ tag: curse

Traditional Subject Indexing Controlled vocabulary Controlled vocabulary Information professional performing subject analysis Information professional performing subject analysis Aim of maximum relevant information retrieval Aim of maximum relevant information retrieval

Cultural Interpretation Collaboration between users and information professionals Collaboration between users and information professionals Utilising user’s specific knowledge to generate deeper meaning Utilising user’s specific knowledge to generate deeper meaning Retaining a controlled vocabulary ensures high precision Retaining a controlled vocabulary ensures high precision

Catalogue Collaborations User-based indexing existing alongside a controlled vocabulary in the catalogue User-based indexing existing alongside a controlled vocabulary in the catalogue University of Pennsylvania University of Pennsylvania University of Huddersfield – OPAC 2.0 University of Huddersfield – OPAC 2.0

University of Huddersfield

Tag: comedy

“ In the pre-internet age, T.H. Huxley’s scenario of infinite monkeys empowered with infinite technology seemed more like a mathematical jest than a dystopian vision… Today’s technology hooks all those monkeys up with all those typewriters. Except in our Web 2.0 world, the typewriters aren’t quite typewriters, but rather networked personal computers, and the monkeys aren’t quite monkeys, but rather Internet users. And instead of creating masterpieces, these millions and millions of exuberant monkeys – many with no more talent in the creative arts than our primate cousins – are creating an endless digital forest of mediocrity. For today’s amateur monkeys can use their networked computers to publish everything from uninformed political commentary, to unseemly home videos, to embarrassingly amateurish music, to unreadable poems, reviews, essays, and novels.” Keen, A. (2007) The cult of the amateur pp. 2-3

References References References Karen Marie (‘what are you reading now’ rethinking tags post) June Karen Marie (‘what are you reading now’ rethinking tags post) June Foskett, A.C. (1996) The subject approach to information. London: Library Association. Foskett, A.C. (1996) The subject approach to information. London: Library Association. Keen, A. (2007) The cult of the Amateur London: Nicholas Brealey Publishing Keen, A. (2007) The cult of the Amateur London: Nicholas Brealey Publishing Rafferty, Pauline and Hidderly, Rob. (2007) “Flickr and Democratic Indexing: Dialogic Approaches to Indexing”, Aslib Proceedings 59: Rafferty, Pauline and Hidderly, Rob. (2007) “Flickr and Democratic Indexing: Dialogic Approaches to Indexing”, Aslib Proceedings 59: