© Copyright 2006 Texas Digital Library. All Rights Reserved.
Vol 6, No 2 (2005)
Articles
Searching and Browsing in a Digital Library of Historical Maps and Newspapers
Digital libraries can empower end users through on-line provision of previously inaccessible materials, synergistic integration of related information collections, and tailoring of access mechanisms for target user groups. In this paper we describe the HistoryMap system that supports access to digitised collections of historical maps and newspapers, integrating searching and browsing between the two. We report on our solution to providing place name searching across maps that vary in accuracy, scale and orientation, and how newspaper text is dynamically reconfigured to include hyperlinks to maps containing given locations. Both the user interface and software architecture of the system are described, as are a usability study of the system and discussion sessions with target end users. Although some surface level usability problems were revealed by the study, target users of the system are enthusiastic about its potential.
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Separation of Concerns: a Web Application Architecture Framework
Architecture frameworks have been extensively developed and described within the literature. These frameworks typically support and guide organisations during system planning, design, building, deployment and maintenance. Their main pupose is to provide clarity to the different modelling perspectives, abstractions, and domains of consideration within system development. In dpoing so they allow improved clarity with regard to the connections between the different models, and the selection of models tht are most likely to capture salient features of the system. In this paper we present an Architectural Framework which takes into account the specific characteristics of web systems. The framework is based around a two dimensional matrix. One dimension separates the concerns of different participants of the web system into perspectives. The second dimension classifies each perspective into development abstractions: structure (what), behaviour (how), location (where) and pattern. The framework is illustrated through examples from the development of a commercial web application.
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The Dublin Core Metadata Registry: Requirements, Implementation, and Experience
Metadata registries are an important digital library research area with the promise of satisfying the needs of metadata designers, practitioners, and users. This paper describes the deployment experience involving the Dublin Core Metadata Initiative (DCMI) metadata registry [1] and discusses the opportunities and prospects for metadata registries as part of the evolving Web-based metadata infrastructure. The motivation and architecture of the DCMI registry are discussed. Benefits and beneficiaries are described, as well as barriers to installation and adoption of metadata registry technology. In addition, prospects for further development are discussed.
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