Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

User Navigation In Large-Scale Distributed Digital Libraries: The Case Of The Digital Public Library Of America, Krystyna K. Matusiak

Library and Information Science: Faculty Publications

This article presents the findings of a case study that examined user navigation in a large-scale digital library in the context of academic use. Using the Digital Public Library of America as case, the study explored user navigation and understanding of a distributed model of large-scale digital libraries. The DPLA model involves two- or three-step navigation pathways. Most study participants could navigate the DPLA distributed, multi-layered system effectively. This study found some confusion among the participants when they had to move through a three-step process to locate digital objects provided by a metadata aggregator service hub. The study participants also …

Finding Access And Digital Preservation Solutions For A Digitized Oral History Project: A Case Study, Krystyna K. Matusiak, Allison Tyler, Catherine Newton, Padma Polepeddi

Library and Information Science: Faculty Publications

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine affordable access and digital preservation solutions for digital collections developed by under-resourced small and mid-size cultural heritage organizations.

Design/methodology/approach – The paper presents a case study of Jeffco Stories, a collection of digitized oral histories created by the Jefferson County Public Library in Colorado.

Findings – This paper describes how the Jefferson County Public Library undertook a migration project of its oral history digital collection into an open access platform, Omeka and selected DuraCloud as a hosted digital preservation service.

Research limitations/implications – As a case study, this paper …

Understanding Roles And Responsibilities Of Data Curators: An International Perspective, Anna Maria Tammaro, Krystyna K. Matusiak, Frank Andreas Sposito, Ana Pervan, Vittore Casarosa

Library and Information Science: Faculty Publications

Data curation has emerged as a new area of responsibility for researchers, librarians, and information professionals in the digital library environment. This paper presents the preliminary findings of a large research project sponsored by the International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA), under the auspices of its Library Theory and Research (LTR) Section. The primary objective of the project is to identify the characteristic tasks and responsibilities of data curators in both international and interdisciplinary contexts. The ultimate objective, however, is to develop a “data curation ontology” that will better define the profession and support the development of educational curricula to …

Digitization And The Changing Roles Of Libraries In Support Of Humanities Research: The Case Of The Harrison Forman Collection, Krystyna K. Matusiak

Library and Information Science: Faculty Publications

Objective – this article examines the role of libraries in expanding access to primary sources through digitization and in providing support for humanities research. Research method – the author analyzes the literature on information behavior of humanist scholars in light of the increased use of digitized primary sources. Next, using the example of the digitized photographs and diaries from the Harrison Forman Collection, the author explores the emerging role of libraries in creating a new source of scholarly materials and supporting research in humanities. Results and conclusion – digitization increasingly matters not only for practical reasons of ease of use …

Multilingual Metadata For Cultural Heritage Materials: The Case Of The Tse-Tsung Chow Collection Of Chinese Scrolls And Fan Paintings, Krystyna K. Matusiak, Ling Meng, Ewa Barczyk, Chia-Jung Shih

Library and Information Science: Faculty Publications

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore multilingual access in digital libraries and to present a case study of creating bilingual metadata records for the Tse-Tsung Chow Collection of Chinese Scrolls and Fan Paintings. The project, undertaken at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libraries, provides access to digital copies of calligraphic and painted Chinese scrolls and fans from the collection donated by Prof Tse-Tsung Chow (Cezong Zhou).

Design/methodology/approach – This paper examines the current approaches to multilingual indexing and retrieval in digital collections and presents a model of creating bilingual parallel records that combines translation with controlled vocabulary …

Digitization For Preservation And Access: Restoring The Usefulness Of The Nitrate Negative Collections At The American Geographical Society Library, Krystyna K. Matusiak, Tamara K. Johnston

Library and Information Science: Faculty Publications

Film-based photographic collections of nitrate negatives pose major challenges to preservation and access because of unstable media and the lack of item-level indexing. Digitization offers an opportunity to capture the content of deteriorating negatives, to extend access to them, and to restore their usefulness as information resources. Digitization as a preservation strategy has been the subject of ongoing debate. This article contributes to the discussion by exploring access to and the preservation of film-based photographic collections and by presenting the digiti- zation project at the American Geographical Society Library as a case study. The project, Saving and Sharing the AGS …

Educating A New Generation Of Library And Information Science Professionals: A United States Perspective, Krystyna K. Matusiak, Mary Stansbury, Ewa Barczyk

Library and Information Science: Faculty Publications

This article examines the U.S model of library and information science (LIS) education in light of the changes brought about by information and communication technology. The accepted model of professional preparation in the United States has emphasized graduate education on a Master’s level from LIS programs accredited by the American Library Association (ALA). The authors trace the historical development of this approach and provide an overview of the ALA accreditation process. Furthermore, they examine the strategies of LIS programs in adjusting to the changing information environment, present the debate about the iSchool movement, and discuss the evolution of the core …

Image And Multimedia Resources In An Academic Environment: A Qualitative Study Of Students’ Experiences And Literacy Practices, Krystyna K. Matusiak

Library and Information Science: Faculty Publications

The digital environment provides an abundance of images and multimedia and offers a new potential for using resources in multiple modes of representation for teaching and learning. This paper reports the findings of a case study that investigated the use of image and multimedia resources in an undergraduate classroom. The study assumed a contextual approach and focused on different class contexts and students’ literacy practices. The class, which took place in a resource-rich, multimodal environment, was perceived by students as a positive learning experience. The distribution of resources and their role in teaching and learning varied and depended on the …

Perceptions Of Usability And Usefulness In Digital Libraries, Krystyna K. Matusiak

Library and Information Science: Faculty Publications

This paper provides an overview of a case study research that investigated the use of Digital Library (DL) resources in two undergraduate classes and explored faculty and students’ perceptions of educational digital libraries. This study found that students and faculty use academic DLs primarily for textual resources, but turn to the open Web for visual and multimedia resources. The study participants did not perceive academic libraries as a useful source of digital images and used search engines when searching for visual resources. The limited use of digital library resources for teaching and learning is associated with perceptions of usefulness and …