Pragmatic support for taxonomy‐based annotation of structured digital documents
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/02640470910998498 |
| Date | 02 October 2009 |
| Published date | 02 October 2009 |
| Pages | 755-766 |
| Author | Lara Whitelaw,Trevor Collins,Zdenek Zdrahal,Paul Mulholland,Linda Potter,Non Scantlebury,Josie Taylor |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management,Library & information science |
Pragmatic support for
taxonomy-based annotation of
structured digital documents
Lara Whitelaw
The Open University Library, The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK
Trevor Collins, Zdenek Zdrahal and Paul Mulholland
Knowledge Media Institute, The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK
Linda Potter and Non Scantlebury
The Open University Library, The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK, and
Josie Taylor
Institute of Educational Technology, The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK
Abstract
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to develop support for the annotation of educational
resources within a digital library and their subsequent integration with distance learning course
materials in a virtual learning environment.
Design/methodology/approach – A toolset for supporting the annotation of structured course
materials was developed in participation with subject librarians, lecturers and library cataloguers.
Findings – The transparency of support provided by the system was found to be an important factor
influencing the acceptance of the toolset. The approach was to facilitate rather than automate the
annotation tasks of the subject librarians, lecturers and cataloguers.
Research limitations/implications – The tools developed were used in two pilot applications:
one for an undergraduate health and social care course, and the second for a postgraduate science
communication course. The implications of the research are not limited to these domains, and
further applications of this approach and the toolset would help to further generalize and refine the
work done.
Originality/value – The value of the work described here is in identifying the benefits of
transparent support tools for multi-disciplinary teams involved in the production and deployment of
online course materials. Here the benefits of metadata annotation are highlighted by enabling the
subject librarians, lecturers and cataloguers to see how the annotations are made and the consequences
of those choices.
Keywords Cataloguing,Digital storage, Digital libraries
Paper type Research paper
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at
www.emeraldinsight.com/0264-0473.htm
This work was carried out as part of the Reflex project with the support of The Open University
Teaching and Learning Office. Particular thanks go to Ruth French from the OU library
cataloguing team for her feedback and suggestions regarding the annotation support tool; Mick
Jones and Marion Hall from the OU Faculty of Health and Social Care for providing access to the
“Social care, social work and the law” course materials; and to the course team and associate
lecturers from the OU Science Faculty that gave feedback on the integrated course presentation
interface.
Annotation
of digital
documents
755
Received 1 March 2008
Revised 15 September 2008
Accepted 24 October 2008
The Electronic Library
Vol. 27 No. 5, 2009
pp. 755-766
qEmerald Group Publishing Limited
0264-0473
DOI 10.1108/02640470910998498
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