Digital Libraries: Concept Map Exercise

Transcription

1 Drexel University From the SelectedWorks of James Gross November 24, 2013 Digital Libraries: Concept Map Exercise James Gross, Drexel University Available at:

2 Assignment#5 Digital Libraries: Concept Map Exercise James Gross Drexel University, Info 653 Dr. Ding 11/24/2013

3 2 For assignment 5, I was instructed to create an image map to visually summarize the question of what is a digital library? I was given the instructions to first download the software CMap, read about this tool, and concept maps, and construct a concept map using any software tool, including CMap software. Summary: CMap is a concept map creation software. Other free desktop software concept maps include Freemind and VUE (Clark, 2011, n.p.). Concept maps are graphical representations of relationships among concepts (Colosimo, 2012, p. 2). Concept mapping is also referred to as a teaching strategy that involves visually structured terms, usually in a circle or square, and interconnecting those terms with arrows (Oliver, 2007, p. 1). My concept map creation process involved identifying the functions of the DLMS, the DLS and the DL. I sought to portray them in conjunction with their managerial duties, preservation needs, and their functions of collecting digital resources. These functions were linked to information access by users. My concept map is partially based on the concepts outlined in the Digital Library Reference Model,(Candela, et al., 2011, n.p.), as well as the DELOS Digital Library Resource Domain Concept Map, (Gazan, 2008, n.p.). I chose these two concept maps as a guide as I sought examples of relevant concept maps to guide me in putting my digital library functions on paper. I placed an emphasis on the functions of collecting, managing, and preserving digital collections based on the following concept: An organization, which might be virtual, that comprehensively collects, manages and preserves for the long term rich digital content, and offers to its user communities specialized functionality on that content, of measurable quality and according to codified policies (Trivedi, 2010, n.p.). I was also guided by the Digital Library Federation, which defines digital libraries as: Organizations that provide the resources, including the specialized staff, to select, structure, offer intellectual access to, interpret, distribute, preserve the integrity of, and ensure the persistence over time of collections of digital works so that they are readily available for use by a defined community or set of communities (Trivedi, 2010, n.p.; also Shiri, 2003, n.p.). My concept map begins with the Digital Library Management System as it provides the appropriate software infrastructure both (i) to produce and administer a Digital Library System incorporating the suite of functionality considered foundational for Digital Libraries and (ii) to integrate additional software offering more refined, specialized, or advanced functionality (Candela, 2007, n.p.). I connected the DLMS to a Digital Library System as DLMS software generation environments may provide mechanisms to be used as a platform to produce Digital Library Systems (Candela, 2007, n.p.). My DLMS supports the DLS with the key functions of produce and administer library functions. And, my concept map has the DLS connected to the Digital Library as The DL is thus the abstract entity that "lives" thanks to the software system constituting the DLS (Candela, 2007, n.p.). My DLS supports the DL with the function of supporting library functions.

4 My concept map defines the DL as being based on the digital library resource domain, consisting of resources. The DL as based on three broad functions: 1. Contains digital objects or files which contains metadata and is accessed by users, 2. Satisfies the information needs of its users, 3. Serves the community which consists of its users. In my concept map, the DLMS, DLS and the DL are all linked to the function of managing resources. I then provide detail of these resources in three areas: 1. Preserve DL resources, 2. Collect DL resources, and manage DL resources. I listed the following three functional categories in the concept map: [1.] Preserving DL resources by ensuring the integrity of data, by ensuring the persistence of data over time, by ensuring data backup, and by adhering to the digital library s preservation policy. [2.] Collect digital resources to serve users, based on DL collection policy, based on relevance, by creation, by purchase, and by promoting collaboration. [3.] Managing the Digital library resources by managing the data, by managing quality, by managing access, by managing content, by selecting relevant resources, by ensuring access rights, by managing functionality, and by offering intellectual access to data and collections. My goal with the concept map was to show a hypothetical DL which engages in the functions of collecting, managing, and preserving digital files, data, and collections. I sought to show how the DLMS is linked to the DLS which supports the DL. I also sought to depict how the DL serves and seeks to satisfy the information seeking needs of its users, based on the digital content available from the DL. I understand that concept map can continually be improved and amended. I feel that my concept map provides an example of a structure for a hypothetical digital library system. I modeled aspects of my DL concept map based on the DELOS model. See the DELOS image, Exhibit A. I included collaboration as a function in my model as several authors have noted its importance. Gazan noted that, "The DELOS Network of Excellence on Digital Libraries now envisions a Digital Library as a tool at the centre of intellectual activity It has moved from a content-centric system that simply organizes and provides access to particular collections of data and information, to a personcentric system that aims to provide interesting, novel, personalized experiences to users. Its main role has moved from static storage and retrieval of information to facilitation of communication, collaboration, and other forms of interaction among scientists, researchers, or the general public on themes that are pertinent to the information stored in the Digital Library" (Gazan, 2008,n.p.; also DELOS, 2007, p. 14). As Candela noted: A possibly virtual organization that comprehensively collects, manages, and preserves for the long term rich digital content, and offers to its user communities specialized functionality on that content, of measurable quality and according to codified policies (Candela, 2007, n.p.). In closing, I noted that Cmap gives the option of collaboration. CmapTools provides extensive support for collaborative work during concept map construction (Novak, 2008, p. 15). The concept maps built using CmapTools can be stored on servers where anybody on the Internet can access them (Novak, 2008, p. 15). In the future, educators teaching this course may wish to consider implementing the collaborative sharing feature of Cmap among students for the concept mapping project. 3

5 4 References: Candela, L., Athanasopoulos, G., Castelli, D., El Raheb, K., Innocenti, P., Ioannidis, Y., Katifori, A., Nika, A., Vullo, G., and Ross, S. (2010). The Digital Library Reference Model, DL.org, retrieved 11/18/2013 from: rence%20model_v1.0.pdf Candela, L., Athanasopoulos, G., Castelli, D., El Raheb, K., Innocenti, P., Ioannidis, Y., Katifori, A., Nika, A., Vullo, G., and Ross, S. (2011) Digital library reference model - in a nutshell. Technical Report. DL.org. Retrieved 11/18/2013 from: Clark, C. (2011). Ten popular concept mapping tools, [personal blog], retrieved 11/19/2013 from: Colosimo, A. & Fitzgibbons, M. (2012). Teaching, Designing, and Organizing: Concept Mapping for Librarians, Partnership: the Canadian Journal of Library and Information Practice and Research, 7:1, pp Retrieved 11/19/2013 from: DELOS (2007). The DELOS Digital Library Reference Model: Foundations for Digital Libraries, version 0.96, (November 2007). Retrieved 11/20/2013 from: Gazan, R. (2008). Social Annotations in Digital Library Collections, D-Lib Magazine, 14:11/12, retrieved 11/19/2013 from: Murthy, U., Gorton, D., Torres, R., Gonçalves, M., Fox, E., Delcambre, L. (2007). Extending the 5S Digital Library (DL) Framework: From a Minimal DL towards a DL Reference Model. Paper presented at the First Digital Library Foundations Workshop - held in conjunction with the 2007 Joint Conference on Digital Libraries (Vancouver, Canada, June, 2007). Retrieved 11/18/2013 from:

6 5 Novak, J., & Canas, A. (2008). The Theory Underlying Concept Maps and How to Construct and Use Them, Technical Report IHMC CmapTools, , Rev , Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition, Pensacola Fl. Retrieved 11/18/2013 from: Oliver, K., & Raubenheimer, C. (2007). Strategies for online concept mapping, Part 1, Online Classroom, Magnum Publication, retrieved 11/18/2013 from: Shiri, A. (2003). Digital library research: Current developments and trends. Library Review 52 (5): Retrieved 11/19/2013 from: Trivedi, M. (2010). Digital libraries: Functionality, usability, and accessibility, Library Philosophy and Practice, 2010, 1-6. Retrieved 11/18/2013 from: P.S. Post-project observation that I should have added an entity for library staff.

7 6 Exhibits Exhibit #A, DELOS Reference Model, Source: Castelli, D. (n.d.). A Reference Model for Digital Library Management Systems, retrieved 11/20/2013 from:

8 Concept map: Digital Library 7

9 8 Honesty statement: At the beginning of each term, students must submit the following statement with their signature: I certify that: I will submit only my own original work, created without unauthorized collaboration. I will not quote the words of any other person from a printed or audio source or a website without indicating what has been quoted and providing an appropriate attribution/citation. I will not submit work in this course that has been used to satisfy the requirements of any other course or created to meet other, non-academic requirements. Signature Date james gross 11/24/2013