Towards a High-level Thesaurus?

Dennis Nicholson:

Centre for Digital Library Research, Strathclyde University

Models 11 and SCONE Timing Earlier: no problem Later: results to report Opportunity: Official support and Illumination? Wider involvement?

SCONE Group SCONE, CAIRNS, RIDING, M25,

MLO, BUBL Cross-sectoral groups in Scotland:

SAGIA: NGfL Scotland, SLAINTE, SCRAN, SUFI, GTN

Agreed way forward on a common subject scheme

Agreement to work together one achievement

Dynamic Clumping Origin of problem: CAIRNS and

dynamic clumping Mechanism to aid user navigation Based on Conspectus exercise RCO database CAIRNS and Dynamic clumping http://wp338.lib.strath.ac.uk/cairns/dynatop.htm

Depth of hierarchy

Conspectus Hierarchy 25 Divisions 250 Categories 7000 subjects E.G.: PHYSICAL SCIENCES PHY 78-125 PHYSICS PHY 88 Relativity Physics clump too large and ‘hides’

real strengths

Expanding CAIRNS Already includes more than RCO Aim is: Scottish cross-sectoral

distributed union catalogue An integrated part of a UK

distributed catalogue Large clumps: dynamic clumping:

using a common subject scheme But, Conspectus? Not likely: 3

reasons

Conspectus Divisions AGRICULTURE CARTOGRAPHIC MATERIALS ECONOMICS AND SOCIOLOGY EDUCATION GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS MILITARY SCIENCE PHYSICAL SCIENCES PSYCHOLOGY

Conspectus Categories PHY 1-50 MATHEMATICS PHY 51-77 ASTRONOMY PHY 78-125 PHYSICS PHY 126-164 CHEMISTRY Not unusual Best chance for mapping?

Conspectus Subjects PHY 78 Physics (General) PHY 79 Periodicals PHY 80 History, biography PHY 81 Mathematical physics PHY 82 Study and teaching PHY 83 Weights and measures More unusual mix?

SCONE RSLP Project Influence on SCONE: deliverables: Expanding RCO/dynamic clumping Examining alternative methods of

measuring collection strength Providing tools to support CCD Mapping Conspectus to other

subject schemes: Recognition

Mapping to what? Alternative preferred scheme UK orientation and control Acceptable across sectors in

Scotland and to other clumps Preferably encompassing RAE

headings BUBL LINK subject scheme

BUBL scheme? Not original intention but attractive: Based on DDC and LC Adapted to UK terminology Covers all subject areas Under community control Live and developing; Examples May solve maintenance problem

BUBL Subjects 170 top level terms 1400 loosely related ‘sub-terms’ Used for 12,000 BUBL LINK

internet resources including subject gateways in RDN Familiar to UK users within and

beyond academic sector

BUBL Top Level Accounting Advertising Aerospace Engineering,

Aeronautics Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries Anatomy Anthropology Archaeology

BUBL Lower level Minorities Modern art Molecular biology Molecular modelling Molluscs Mixed: several levels: not perfect:

will adjust

Initial agreement Proposal put to clumps projects RAE, M25 80% mappings Music Libraries Online: depth RIDING prepared to examine SAGIA group general support NERIS merge work: schools> Approach worth examining further

What now? SCONE work at early stage BUBL funding not a problem Detailed work needs to be done to

tailor BUBL scheme to fit needs This has to be done at subject

terms level - can’t be done at a workshop like this

But: agree a structure?

Thesaurus needed? Scone work: suggests thesaurus BTs and NTs (various degrees) Related terms (different

approaches) Grouped terms (shape and space) Synonyms (geometry) Document types/user levels etc

DDC Top 100? Not adequate Insufficient depth to cope with 3

level Conspectus hierarchy Depth needed for dynamic

clumping (think about MLO) Even top level BUBL terms go

deeper into Dewey e.g. Anatomy 611 Electronics 621

Requirements General requirements: concerns: Sustainable maintenance Widely and officially accepted Fit for purpose: user adaptability

and effective navigation and…? Last is most important and is still

being researched within SCONE

MODELS 11 link Key question: are we addressing

the same problem? If not, SCONE will take account of

MODELS and aim for community input anyway

If we are, SCONE resources can help contribute to a solution

RSLP extension possible?