The Experts below are selected from a list of 360 Experts worldwide ranked by ideXlab platform

Matija Strlič - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • Accumulation of wear and tear in archival and Library Collections. Part II: an epidemiological study
    Heritage Science, 2019
    Co-Authors: Cristina Duran-casablancas, Josep Grau-bové, Tom Fearn, Matija Strlič
    Abstract:

    This paper proposes a new approach to collection surveying based on epidemiology, the discipline that describes and explains disease patterns in populations. In epidemiology the focus of attention lies not only on the occurrence of a disease but also on the characteristics of the individuals which might play a role in the occurrence of the disease. To explore the applicability of epidemiology to heritage Collections, we take as example the study of the occurrence and accumulation of wear and tear in archive Collections, which so far has only been studied in controlled experimental studies. We designed an observational study (survey) in which the assessment of mechanical failure is understood as the outcome variable, and the factors that might affect the degree of failure are defined as exposure variables. To evaluate the relevance of the assessed factors in relation to the observed mechanical failure, exploratory data analyses were conducted by comparing groups of objects that differ regarding their level of exposure to different factors. Although highly scattered data is not unusual in this type of studies and confounding has to be taken into account during the data analysis, this paper shows that through an epidemiological approach to surveys, the factors that have a greater effect on mechanical failure can be identified. Moreover, the rate of failure can also be determined for certain groups of objects. Also patterns of decay emerge which show the vulnerability of certain groups of objects. In this paper the practical aspects of the design and analysis of observational epidemiological studies for heritage Collections are discussed. As a final note, the applicability and relevance of this approach to support collection management is briefly discussed.

  • Accumulation of wear and tear in archival and Library Collections. Part I: exploring the concepts of reliability and epidemiology
    Heritage Science, 2019
    Co-Authors: Cristina Duran-casablancas, Josep Grau-bové, Matija Strlič
    Abstract:

    Wear and tear is the outcome of degradation most frequently reported in assessments of archival and Library Collections. It is also problematic to study in controlled experiments, due to the difficulty in reproducing the conditions in which original objects are kept and used in archives and libraries. Hence, data collected from actual Collections, for instance during surveys, could provide the evidence on how wear and tear occurs. However, to be useful, such data need to be purposely collected and analysed: unlike the usual collection surveys, the aim is not to quantify the prevalence of a certain damage type but to provide evidence on how such damage occurs. In this paper we explore whether two approaches used in other disciplines could be useful: reliability engineering, the method that deals with failure in complex systems, and epidemiology, which explores diseases in defined populations. We show that based on reliability engineering we can decide which data related to the causes of mechanical failure should be collected during collection surveys, while using epidemiology we can develop the study design and the data analysis needed to study the relationship between mechanical failure, and the factors that might affect the degree of failure. The results of epidemiological studies in heritage Collections could provide quantitative evidence of patterns of decay in Collections, and corroborate the qualitative analysis provided by reliability. The results can directly support collection management decisions or can be used in mathematical models in which the effect of preservation measures is explored.

Ian H Witten - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • a new framework for building digital Library Collections
    ACM IEEE Joint Conference on Digital Libraries, 2005
    Co-Authors: George Buchanan, David Bainbridge, Katherine J Don, Ian H Witten
    Abstract:

    This paper introduces a new framework for building digital Library Collections and contrasts it with existing systems. It describes a significant new step in the development of a widely-used open-source digital Library system, Greenstone, which has evolved over many years. It is supported by a fresh implementation, which forced us to rethink the entire design rather than making incremental improvements. The redesign capitalizes on the best ideas from the existing system, which have been refined and developed to open new avenues through which digital librarians can tailor their Collections. We demonstrate its flexibility by showing how digital Library Collections can be extended and altered to satisfy new requirements.

  • Creating digital Library Collections with Greenstone
    Library Hi Tech, 2005
    Co-Authors: Ian H Witten, David Bainbridge
    Abstract:

    Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to introduce Greenstone and explain how librarians use it to create and customize digital Library Collections.Design/methodology/approach – Through an end‐user interface, users may add documents and metadata to Collections, create new Collections whose structure mirrors existing ones, and build Collections and put them in place for users to view.Findings – First‐time users can easily and quickly create their own digital Library Collections. More advanced users can design and customize new collection structuresOriginality/value – The Greenstone digital Library software is a comprehensive system for building and distributing digital Library Collections. It provides a way of organizing information based on metadata and publishing it on the Internet or on removable media such as CD‐ROM/DVD.

  • assembling and enriching digital Library Collections
    ACM IEEE Joint Conference on Digital Libraries, 2003
    Co-Authors: David Bainbridge, John Thompson, Ian H Witten
    Abstract:

    People who create digital libraries need to gather together the raw material, add metadata as necessary, and design and build new Collections. This paper sets out the requirements for these tasks and describes a new tool that supports them interactively, making it easy for users to create their own Collections from electronic files of all types. The process involves selecting documents for inclusion, coming up with a suitable metadata set, assigning metadata to each document or group of documents, designing the form of the collection in terms of document formats, searchable indexes, and browsing facilities, building the necessary indexes and data structures, and putting the collection in place for others to use. Moreover, different situations require different workflows, and the system must be flexible enough to cope with these demands. Although the tool is specific to the Greenstone digital Library software, the underlying ideas should prove useful in more general contexts.

  • examples of practical digital libraries Collections built internationally using greenstone
    International Conference on Asian Digital Libraries, 2002
    Co-Authors: Ian H Witten
    Abstract:

    Although the field of digital libraries is still young, digital Library Collections have been built around the world and are being deployed on numerous public web sites. But what is a digital Library, exactly? In many respects the best way to characterize the notion is by extension, in terms of actual examples, rather than by intension as in a conventional definition. In a very real sense, digital libraries are whatever people choose to call by the term “digital Library.”

  • power to the people end user building of digital Library Collections
    ACM IEEE Joint Conference on Digital Libraries, 2001
    Co-Authors: Ian H Witten, David Bainbridge, Stefan J Boddie
    Abstract:

    Naturally, digital Library systems focus principally on the reader: th e consumer of the material that constitutes the Library. In contrast, this paper describes an interface that makes it easy for people to build their own Library Collections. Collections may be built and served locally from the user's own web server, or (given appropriate permissions) remotely on a shared digital Library host. End users can easily build new Collections styled after existing ones from material on the Web or from their local files-or both, and Collections can be updated and new ones brought on-line at any time. The interface, which is intended for non-professional end users, is modeled after widely used commercial software installation packages. Lest one quail at the prospect of end users building their own Collections on a shared system, we also describe an interface for the administrative user who is responsible for maintaining a digital Library installation.

Cristina Duran-casablancas - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • Accumulation of wear and tear in archival and Library Collections. Part II: an epidemiological study
    Heritage Science, 2019
    Co-Authors: Cristina Duran-casablancas, Josep Grau-bové, Tom Fearn, Matija Strlič
    Abstract:

    This paper proposes a new approach to collection surveying based on epidemiology, the discipline that describes and explains disease patterns in populations. In epidemiology the focus of attention lies not only on the occurrence of a disease but also on the characteristics of the individuals which might play a role in the occurrence of the disease. To explore the applicability of epidemiology to heritage Collections, we take as example the study of the occurrence and accumulation of wear and tear in archive Collections, which so far has only been studied in controlled experimental studies. We designed an observational study (survey) in which the assessment of mechanical failure is understood as the outcome variable, and the factors that might affect the degree of failure are defined as exposure variables. To evaluate the relevance of the assessed factors in relation to the observed mechanical failure, exploratory data analyses were conducted by comparing groups of objects that differ regarding their level of exposure to different factors. Although highly scattered data is not unusual in this type of studies and confounding has to be taken into account during the data analysis, this paper shows that through an epidemiological approach to surveys, the factors that have a greater effect on mechanical failure can be identified. Moreover, the rate of failure can also be determined for certain groups of objects. Also patterns of decay emerge which show the vulnerability of certain groups of objects. In this paper the practical aspects of the design and analysis of observational epidemiological studies for heritage Collections are discussed. As a final note, the applicability and relevance of this approach to support collection management is briefly discussed.

  • Accumulation of wear and tear in archival and Library Collections. Part I: exploring the concepts of reliability and epidemiology
    Heritage Science, 2019
    Co-Authors: Cristina Duran-casablancas, Josep Grau-bové, Matija Strlič
    Abstract:

    Wear and tear is the outcome of degradation most frequently reported in assessments of archival and Library Collections. It is also problematic to study in controlled experiments, due to the difficulty in reproducing the conditions in which original objects are kept and used in archives and libraries. Hence, data collected from actual Collections, for instance during surveys, could provide the evidence on how wear and tear occurs. However, to be useful, such data need to be purposely collected and analysed: unlike the usual collection surveys, the aim is not to quantify the prevalence of a certain damage type but to provide evidence on how such damage occurs. In this paper we explore whether two approaches used in other disciplines could be useful: reliability engineering, the method that deals with failure in complex systems, and epidemiology, which explores diseases in defined populations. We show that based on reliability engineering we can decide which data related to the causes of mechanical failure should be collected during collection surveys, while using epidemiology we can develop the study design and the data analysis needed to study the relationship between mechanical failure, and the factors that might affect the degree of failure. The results of epidemiological studies in heritage Collections could provide quantitative evidence of patterns of decay in Collections, and corroborate the qualitative analysis provided by reliability. The results can directly support collection management decisions or can be used in mathematical models in which the effect of preservation measures is explored.

Mariaelena De La Rosa - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

James G. Neal - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • what do users want what do users need w h ither the academic research Library
    Journal of Library Administration, 2009
    Co-Authors: James G. Neal
    Abstract:

    ABSTRACT What shapes and extends user expectations? How well is the Library positioned to meet and exceed those needs? How are Library Collections, services, technology, space, staffing, and organization influenced by these developments? What new roles and responsibilities are being embraced and advanced? This article outlines the growing desires and requirements of the academic research Library user under the impact of digital and network technologies, with a focus on the student, the teacher, and the researcher.