Centre for Cultural and Industrial Technologies Research (CiTech)
Presenters: Peter Howell and Getaneh Alemu
Fri, 18 May 2012 12:00:00 BST
| Dates: | Friday 18 May 2012 |
|---|---|
| Time: | 12:00 – 13:00 |
| Venue: | Room 0.20 Eldon Building University of Portsmouth Winston Churchill Avenue Portsmouth PO1 2DJ |
[Title to be confirmed]
Presenter: Peter Howell
Abstract
To follow.
Semantic Metadata Interoperability in Digital Libraries: A Constructivist Grounded Theory Approach
Presenter: Getaneh Alemu
Abstract
In this seminar, I will highlight on the problems of semantic metadata interoperability in digital libraries. The prevalence of the plethora of standards and the lack of semantic interoperability is partly attributed to the absence of theoretical foundations to underpin current metadata approaches and solutions. Present metadata standards and interoperability approaches are mainly top-down and hierarchical, which fail to take into account the diversity of cultural, linguistic and local perspectives. In this regard, it is suggested that, a social constructivist approach should be adopted as libraries and other cultural heritage institutions house information objects that need to be enriched with metadata, which reflects the diversity of views and perspectives of their users. Following on Charmaz (2006), a constructivist grounded theory method is adopted to investigate how library professionals and library users view metadata standards, collaborative metadata approaches and Semantic Web technologies in relation to semantic metadata interoperability. The method allows an active interplay between the researcher and the participants who are library and information science researchers, librarians and library users. From the first phase of data collection, preliminary reflections are presented on how library and information science professionals view current metadata practises especially as used in academic library contexts. However, as the study is ongoing, it is too early to generate theoretical categories and conclusions.