1. 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, August 2004
6th International Conference on Social Science Methodology, Amsterdam, 2004
RC33 Sixth International Conference on Social Science Methodology, Amsterdam, August 2004

2. 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, August 2004

3. 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

4. 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
6th International Conference on Social Science Methodology, Amsterdam, 2004

5. RDN Social Science Information Gateway (August 2004)
6th International Conference on Social Science Methodology, Amsterdam, 2004

6. What is the Renardus Service?
A broker service that integrates access to European subject gateways (all subjects)
Developed by a research project funded 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)
6th International Conference on Social Science Methodology, Amsterdam, 2004

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

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

16. 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

17. 6th International Conference on Social Science Methodology, Amsterdam, 2004

18. 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

19. 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

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

21. 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

22. 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

23. 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

24. 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

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

26. Thank-you for your attention!