A data model of theses and dissertations compatible with CERIF, Dublin Core and EDT‐MS
| Pages | 548-567 |
| Published date | 03 August 2012 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/14684521211254068 |
| Date | 03 August 2012 |
| Author | Lidija Ivanović,Dragan Ivanović,Dušan Surla |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management,Library & information science |
A data model of theses and
dissertations compatible with
CERIF, Dublin Core and EDT-MS
Lidija Ivanovic
´
Faculty of Education, University of Novi Sad, Sombor, Serbia
Dragan Ivanovic
´
Faculty of Technical Sciences, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia, and
Dus
ˇan Surla
Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia
Abstract
Purpose – The aim of this research is to define a data model of theses and dissertations that enables
data exchange with CERIF-compatible CRIS systems and data exchange according to OAI-PMH
protocol in different metadata formats (Dublin Core, EDT-MS, etc.).
Design/methodology/approach – Various systems that contain metadata about theses and
dissertations are analyzed. There are different standards and protocols that enable the interoperability
of those systems: CERIF standard, AOI-PMH protocol, etc. A physical data model that enables
interoperability with almost all of those systems is created using the PowerDesigner CASE tool.
Findings – A set of metadata about theses and dissertations that contain all the metadata required
by CERIF data model, Dublin Core format, EDT-MS format and all the metadata prescribed by the
University of Novi Sad is defined. Defined metadata can be stored in the CERIF-compatible data model
based on the MARC21 format.
Practical implications – CRIS-UNS is a CRIS which has been developed at the University of Novi
Sad since 2008. The system is based on the proposed data model, which enables the system’s
interoperability with other CERIF-compatible CRIS systems. Also, the system based on the proposed
model can become a member of NDLTD.
Social implications – A system based on the proposed model increases the availability of theses
and dissertations, and thus encourages the development of the knowledge-based society.
Originality/value – A data model of theses and dissertations that enables interoperability with
CERIF-compatible CRIS systems is proposed. A software system based on the proposed model could
become a member of NDLTD and exchange metadata with institutional repositories. The proposed
model increases the availability of theses and dissertations.
Keywords CERIF, OAI-PMH,NDLTD, ETD-MS, MARC21, CRIS-UNS, Datamanagement,
Institutionalrepositories, Open systems
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
One of the basic postulates of a knowledge society is availability of knowledge. Due to
the development of ICT, the process of learning and researching has been changed in
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at
www.emeraldinsight.com/1468-4527.htm
This paper is part of the research project “Infrastructure for Technology Enhanced Learning in
Serbia” supported by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Serbia (Project
No. 47003).
OIR
36,4
548
Received 18 October 2010
Accepted 10 September
2011
Online Information Review
Vol. 36 No. 4, 2012
pp. 548-567
qEmerald Group Publishing Limited
1468-4527
DOI 10.1108/14684521211254068
recent years. In the past knowledge was available to researchers usually in print form
(papers published in journals, scientific monographs, papers published in proceedings
of scientific conferences) unlike today when a lot of knowledge can be found in digital
form using various applications (Lewandowski, 2010; Pembe and Gu
¨ngo
¨r, 2009; Luyt
et al., 2009). By 2010 published scientific research output in digital form along with
associated metadata are available via various applications such as digital libraries,
research management systems, institutional repositories, information systems of
publishing activity (Springer, Emerald), etc. Almost all of those applications are
implemented as web applications with defined access rights. The importance of open
access to scientific research digital content for further development of science has been
discussed in recent years (Lawrence, 2001; Harnad and Brody, 2004; Antelman, 2004;
Anderson et al., 2001; Kurtz et al. 2005a, b, c; Eysenbach, 2005).
The motivation for the investigation presented in this paper is the development of a
data model compatible with all existing models of metadata about theses and
dissertations as well as other scientific research outputs. The presented model supports
integration of various software systems of such outputs. Furthermore the model
enables implementation of a software component for searching and exchanging
scientific research outputs via all existing standards. In this way the availability of
theses and dissertations as well as other scientific research outputs is increased, which
significantly contributes to the rapid and effective development of scientific activity.
Increased availability of scientific research outputs can be achieved in the following
ways:
.exchanging data between Current Research Information Systems (CRIS) and
library information systems in MARC21 format according to bibliographic
protocols (OAI-PMH, Z39.50, SRU/W, etc.);
.exchanging data between CRIS systems according to the Common European
Research Information Format (CERIF) standard;
.exchanging data between CRIS systems and institutional repositories in Dublin
Core format according to OAI-PMH protocol; and
.membership of CRIS systems in the Networked Digital Library of Theses and
Dissertations (NDLTD) network, i.e. exchanging data between CRIS systems and
members of the NDLTD network in Interoperability Metadata Standard for
Electronic Theses and Dissertations (EDT-MS) format according to OAI-PMH
protocol.
The relationships between institutional repositories, research management systems
and library information systems has been discussed in recent years ( Joint, 2008). The
paper by Dijk et al. (2006) describes the NARCIS (National Academic Research and
Collaborations Research System) portal representing an access point to all scientific
research information in the Netherlands. That system is an integration of the
Netherlands research managemen t system and DARENET (Digital Academic
Repositories in the Netherlands). Furthermore Olivier (2009) describes collaboration
between the research management system and the digital library at Pretoria
University. There are similar collaborations between a research management system
and a digital library at Glasgow University, Southampton University and Kingston
University. The general objective of the CRIS-IR group (www.eurocris.org/Index.
Data model of
theses and
dissertations
549
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