helsinki, november 2007 1 frbr: the bright new future? part 1 maja Žumer university of ljubljana...

Helsinki, November 2007Helsinki, November 2007 11

FRBR: the bright new FRBR: the bright new future?future?Part 1Part 1

Maja ŽumerMaja ŽumerUniversity of LjubljanaUniversity of Ljubljana

SloveniaSlovenia


Functional Requirements for Functional Requirements for Bibliographic RecordsBibliographic Records• Approved by IFLA in 1997Approved by IFLA in 1997• Published in 1998Published in 1998• Conceptual model of the Conceptual model of the

‘bibliographic universe’‘bibliographic universe’

• Still ‘new’?Still ‘new’?


User functionsUser functions• using the data to using the data to FINDFIND materials that materials that

correspond to the user's stated search correspond to the user's stated search criteriacriteria

• using the data retrieved to using the data retrieved to IDENTIFYIDENTIFY an an entityentity (e.g., to confirm that the document described (e.g., to confirm that the document described corresponds to the document sought by the user, or to corresponds to the document sought by the user, or to distinguish between two distinguish between two similar documentssimilar documents) )

• using the data to using the data to SELECTSELECT an entity that is an entity that is appropriate to the user's needsappropriate to the user's needs (e.g., to select (e.g., to select a text in a language the user understands, or to choose a a text in a language the user understands, or to choose a version of a computer program that is compatible with the version of a computer program that is compatible with the hardware and operating system available to the user) hardware and operating system available to the user)

• using the data in order to acquire or using the data in order to acquire or OBTAINOBTAIN access to the entity described access to the entity described


EntitiesEntities• Group 1Group 1

(products of intellectual and artistic endeavor)(products of intellectual and artistic endeavor)• WorkWork• ExpressionExpression• ManifestationManifestation• ItemItem• Group 2 Group 2

((actors related to Group1 entitiesactors related to Group1 entities))• PersonPerson• Corporate BodyCorporate Body• Group 3 Group 3

(subjects of works)(subjects of works)• All in Groups 1 and 2 plus:All in Groups 1 and 2 plus:• ConceptConcept• ObjectObject• EventEvent• PlacePlace


““The FRBR revolution”The FRBR revolution”• User-oriented view of cataloguingUser-oriented view of cataloguing• Catalogue as a database and not a Catalogue as a database and not a

replica of a card cataloguereplica of a card catalogue• Re-thinking of current cataloguing theory Re-thinking of current cataloguing theory

and practiceand practice

• potential for potential for interoperability within interoperability within ALM, ALM, rights management, Semantic Webrights management, Semantic Web


Obstacles to Obstacles to implementationimplementation• Conservative viewsConservative views• Legacy dataLegacy data• Model is perceived as ‘very abstract Model is perceived as ‘very abstract

and theoretical’and theoretical’• Open to interpretation (e.g. Open to interpretation (e.g.

expression)expression)• No data model, no cataloguing rulesNo data model, no cataloguing rules


But…But…• FRBRisation experimentsFRBRisation experiments• OCLC FictionFinderOCLC FictionFinder• VTLSVTLS• ……


The “FRBR family”The “FRBR family”• FRBR: the original frameworkFRBR: the original framework

– All entities, focusing on Group 1All entities, focusing on Group 1• FRAR (FRAD): Functional Requirements for FRAR (FRAD): Functional Requirements for

Authority Records/DataAuthority Records/Data– Focus on Group 2Focus on Group 2– Almost finishedAlmost finished

• FRSAR: Functional Requirements for Subject FRSAR: Functional Requirements for Subject Authority RecordsAuthority Records– Focus on Group3Focus on Group3– OngoingOngoing


Recent developmentsRecent developments• Workshop in Dublin, OH (2005)Workshop in Dublin, OH (2005)• IFLA pre-conference in JIFLA pre-conference in Jäärvenprvenpääää (2005) (2005)• Active role of FRBR Review GroupActive role of FRBR Review Group

– ExpressionExpression– AggregatesAggregates– AttributesAttributes

• FRBR/CRM harmonisation WGFRBR/CRM harmonisation WG


Expression WGExpression WGA more pragmatic definition of Expression:A more pragmatic definition of Expression:

On a practical level, the degree to which On a practical level, the degree to which bibliographic distinctions are made between bibliographic distinctions are made between variant variant expressions expressions of a of a work work will depend to will depend to some extent on the nature of the some extent on the nature of the work work itself, on itself, on the anticipated needs of users and on what the the anticipated needs of users and on what the cataloguer can reasonably be expected to cataloguer can reasonably be expected to recognize from the recognize from the manifestationmanifestation being being described.described.

Augmentations (illustrations, foreword…) Augmentations (illustrations, foreword…) as independent works as independent works


Aggregates WGAggregates WGPlans to cover (a) collections, selections, Plans to cover (a) collections, selections,

anthologies..., (b) augmentations, (c) anthologies..., (b) augmentations, (c) series, (d) journals, (e) integrating series, (d) journals, (e) integrating resources, (f) multipart monographs resources, (f) multipart monographs

Composites of dependent/independent Composites of dependent/independent worksworks

Ongoing workOngoing work


IssuesIssues• Granularity of worksGranularity of works• ModelsModels


WorkWork• DistinctDistinct• AutonomousAutonomous

• Universality of worksUniversality of works• Properties of work independent of its manifestationsProperties of work independent of its manifestations

Rarely a one-to-one relationship between work and Rarely a one-to-one relationship between work and manifestationmanifestation

EEvidence from all of the manifestations can be used to vidence from all of the manifestations can be used to identify a workidentify a work


Types of aggregatesTypes of aggregates• Collections: Collections: groups of two or more separately and groups of two or more separately and

independently created works that are ‘published’ independently created works that are ‘published’ together. Collections include selections, together. Collections include selections, anthologies, monographic series, serialsanthologies, monographic series, serials, , journals journals (aggregates of articles) and CDs (aggregates of (aggregates of articles) and CDs (aggregates of individual songs or tracks).individual songs or tracks). U Usually similar in type.sually similar in type.

• AugmentationsAugmentations: : a work has been supplemented a work has been supplemented with additional material that is not integral to the with additional material that is not integral to the original work and does not change the original original work and does not change the original workwork ( (forforeewwoords, introductions, illustrations, rds, introductions, illustrations, notesnotes). Combination with dependent works.). Combination with dependent works.


Aggregation workAggregation work• the act of combining worksthe act of combining works• when significant, when significant, should be should be

considered a work in its own right considered a work in its own right ((e.g. compiling ane.g. compiling an anthology) anthology)


Models discussedModels discussed• ‘‘work-of-parts’work-of-parts’• ‘‘manifestation-of-works’manifestation-of-works’• ‘‘work-of-works’work-of-works’


FRBR and CRMFRBR and CRM• Two conceptual models of the Two conceptual models of the

cultural heritage sectorcultural heritage sector


CIDOC CRM: museum CIDOC CRM: museum conceptual modelconceptual model

• ““CRM” is for “Conceptual Reference Model”CRM” is for “Conceptual Reference Model”• Developed from 1996 on by ICOM CIDOC Developed from 1996 on by ICOM CIDOC

(International Council of Museums – (International Council of Museums – International Committee for Documentation)International Committee for Documentation)

• Maintained by CRM-SIG (Special Interest Group)Maintained by CRM-SIG (Special Interest Group)• AAccepted asccepted as ISO 21127 ISO 21127 in September 2006 in September 2006• Covers any kind of data (“descriptive” or Covers any kind of data (“descriptive” or

“authorities”) created by museums in the fields “authorities”) created by museums in the fields of fine arts, archaeology, natural history…of fine arts, archaeology, natural history…


FRBR/CRM HarmonisationFRBR/CRM Harmonisation• To reach a common view of cultural heritage To reach a common view of cultural heritage

informationinformation (because we share users and types (because we share users and types of materials)of materials)

• To check FRBR’s internal consistencyTo check FRBR’s internal consistency• To enable interoperability and integration To enable interoperability and integration

(mediation tools, Semantic Web applications…)(mediation tools, Semantic Web applications…)• For FRBR’s and CIDOC CRM’s mutual benefit (to For FRBR’s and CIDOC CRM’s mutual benefit (to

extend the scope of both)extend the scope of both)• To open the way to future applications To open the way to future applications

(semantic paths between heterogeneous (semantic paths between heterogeneous library and museum databases)library and museum databases)


OutcomesOutcomes• Draft of “FRBRoo” published for Draft of “FRBRoo” published for

public comment public comment

• Clarifications of FRBR (manifestation)Clarifications of FRBR (manifestation)• Modeling of processesModeling of processes• Publisher (intellectual) contributionPublisher (intellectual) contribution• Clarification of concepts, definitionsClarification of concepts, definitions


Next stepsNext steps• Group 2, Group 3, FRAGroup 2, Group 3, FRADD and FRSAR and FRSAR attributesattributes• FRBRFRBR, FRAD , FRAD & FR& FRSSAR relationshipsAR relationships• RefinementsRefinements• Check the robustnessCheck the robustness• Draft deliverables: scope notes and examples Draft deliverables: scope notes and examples

for each class & property, tutorials, for each class & property, tutorials, explanatory documents…explanatory documents…

• Core FRBRooCore FRBRoo• Prepare a prototype applicationPrepare a prototype application• ……


Potential of FRBRPotential of FRBR• National bibliographiesNational bibliographies

• Portals (clustering of results)Portals (clustering of results)

• Intellectual rights managementIntellectual rights management


The futureThe future• The new cataloguing rules The new cataloguing rules

(RDA)/Italian(RDA)/Italian• International Meetings of Experts for International Meetings of Experts for

an International Cataloguing Code an International Cataloguing Code (IME-ICC) (IME-ICC)

• Prototypes of FRBRisation toolsPrototypes of FRBRisation tools• Prototypes of new cataloguesPrototypes of new catalogues


InteroperabilityInteroperability• Within the library communityWithin the library community• With other communities in the With other communities in the

cultural heritage sectorcultural heritage sector• OtherOther


Within library communityWithin library community• Acceptance within the communityAcceptance within the community

– Development of the modelDevelopment of the model– Cataloguing rulesCataloguing rules

• Real-life applicationsReal-life applications– Data modelData model– InterfaceInterface

• Legacy dataLegacy data


Legacy dataLegacy data• Incomplete recordsIncomplete records• Inconsistent dataInconsistent data• Notes as source of important infomationNotes as source of important infomation• Many works only published onceMany works only published once

• Accept less-than-perfect resultsAccept less-than-perfect results• Social tagging/annotation?Social tagging/annotation?


Interoperability with museum Interoperability with museum documentationdocumentation• Develop/refine FRBRoo furtherDevelop/refine FRBRoo further• Prototypes neededPrototypes needed


Other?Other?• ArchivesArchives• Intellectual rights managementIntellectual rights management

• Should be investigatedShould be investigated


A quote from my favourite A quote from my favourite bookbookHere is Edward Bear, coming downstairs now, Here is Edward Bear, coming downstairs now,

bump, bump, bump, on the back of his bump, bump, bump, on the back of his head, behind Christopher Robin. It is, as far head, behind Christopher Robin. It is, as far as he knows, the only way of coming as he knows, the only way of coming downstairs, but sometimes he feels that downstairs, but sometimes he feels that there really is another way, if only he could there really is another way, if only he could stop bumping for a moment and think of it. stop bumping for a moment and think of it. And then he feels that perhaps there isn’t... And then he feels that perhaps there isn’t... (A.A. Milne, The House at Pooh Corner)(A.A. Milne, The House at Pooh Corner)


The library community The library community shouldshould• Finaly accept FRBRFinaly accept FRBR• Understand the importance of Understand the importance of

cooperation with other communitiescooperation with other communities

helsinki, november 2007 1 frbr: the bright new future? part 1 maja Žumer university of ljubljana...

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