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Beyond Language Barriers: A Survey of Current Online Library
Systems and LIS Education
YooJin Ha School of Communication, Information
and Library Studies, Rutgers University
1/11/2005 at ALISE
YooJin Ha Rutgers University
Major Topics
Research problem Objectives Research questions Underlying concepts Methodology Discussion Future study Conclusion
YooJin Ha Rutgers University
Fundamental Premise
Imagine a world where all ideas count the same – no matter what languages are used and no matter what country the person comes from.
YooJin Ha Rutgers University
Research problems OPAC system Still lack a common understanding of different
cultural backgrounds where information professionals share and disseminate documents and where users access OPACs across language boundaries.
LIS education Information professionals need to be sensitive to
such concerns and it is assumed that globalization should be a key component of Library and Information science (LIS) education and its curriculum.
YooJin Ha Rutgers University
Research problems (example)
Examples using WorldCat/OCLC Name: Korean poet ‘Soweol Kim ( 김소월 )
Title: Azalea flower ( 진달래꽃 ) Difficulties - with queries: variability in translation of alphabetic
characters (i.e. Sowol, Souwol etc). - in bibliographic description: not providing
translation but only the sound of Korean written in an English alphabet (Romanization) (i.e. Jindalaekot) – user may not be able to judge whether it is correct or not.
YooJin Ha Rutgers University
Objectives To establish if standardization of bibliographic
records, data, and access lack a socio-cognitive component which could be considered as an important addition to the record.
To devise appropriate cultural and language considerations useful in curricular design for LIS education on a global level.
To encourage cooperative work in sharing information between different countries which encompasses cultural meaning across translations and transliteration activities.
YooJin Ha Rutgers University
Selected underlying concepts
Cultural understanding and socio-cognitive view (Hjørland, 1997, 2002)
International librarianship (Carroll, 1987; Harvey, 1987; Gollop, 1999; Rehman, 2000)
Standardization in bibliographic description
- MARC (1969), IFLA (1974).
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Underlying concepts (continued)
In Hjørland’s recent paper, the author nicely represented how we can view this socio-cognitive perspective.
“This view changes the focus of IS from individuals (or computers) to the social, cultural, and scientific world. One important implication is that the relevant cognitive structures are of a historical rather than of a physiological nature. In developing this view I found support inside psychology from The Cultural-Historical Approach associated with names like John Dewey, L.S.Vygotsky, and A.N. Leontiev, also known as Activity Theory and the Socio-cognitive View.” (2002, p. 258)
YooJin Ha Rutgers University
Research questions Are there impediments to using current online
library systems which might be attributed to specific cultural anomalies?
Do searches from language X to language Y yield the same results as going from Y to X? Are such searches influenced by variables attributed to cultural and socio-cognitive differences when spanning languages?
How do current LIS curricula addresses cultural idiosyncrasies important in query formulation and in search processes?
YooJin Ha Rutgers University
Methodology
Overview Pre-test Preliminary study Analysis Compilation of issues Confirmatory interviews
WorldCat/OCLC (First Search) was tested in this study as a example of cooperative worldwide online library systems.
YooJin Ha Rutgers University
WorldCat/OCLC OCLC (Online Computer Library Center) “Founded in 1967, and more than 50,540 libraries in 84
countries and territories around the world use OCLC services to locate, acquire, catalog, lend and preserve library materials.”*
WorldCat (the OCLC Online Union Catalog) “A worldwide union catalog created and maintained
collectively by more than 9,000 member institutions. With millions of online records built from the bibliographic and ownership information of contributing libraries, it is the largest and most comprehensive database of its kind.”*
* from OCLC website
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Methodology (Continued)
Pre-test Conducted a survey as open-ended questions
with two individuals who had extensive experience with WorldCat/OCLC:
1. their use of WorldCat system, its value and importance to them and to their library
2. how WorldCat had changed in the recent past and how the individuals regarded those changes.
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WorldCat demo
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WorldCat advanced search screen
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Bibliographic example
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Romanization with vernacular
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Methodology (Continued)
Preliminary study by an online survey Survey using questionnaires administered to a
small sample of selected graduate students and faculty in US, China, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan universities.
Purpose of questionnaire is to provide evidence of cultural and language issues when spanning languages and countries when searching WorldCat.
YooJin Ha Rutgers University
Methodology (Continued)
Survey
An online instrument (using SurveyMonkey) was presented to respondents. All subjects were required to respond to three sections of questions:
I. Background questions
II. WorldCat usage
III. LIS program
YooJin Ha Rutgers University
Methodology (Continued)
Sample A convenience sample of those fluent in English and
another language and who catalog or are users of catalogs in multiple languages.
Total N=20 subjects who live in the United States, Korea, China, and Taiwan. 85% of subjects are either currently studying at in an LIS program or have an LIS degree already. (Among those 85%, about 50% are currently doctoral students in LIS who already hold either/both BA and Master degree in LIS.)
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I. Background information
Demographic informationNative Language n= Cur LIS
studentLIS Degree
Exp. w/ WorldCat
Chinese simplified
5 4 4 3
Chinese traditional
3 2 3 0
Japanese 2 1 1 0
English 3 2 2 1
Korean 7 3 7 5Total N= 20 12 17 9
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II. WorldCat usage: Efficiency of searching for
different language Users’ self report on efficiency of WorldCat
don't know
not efficient somewhat
efficient
efficient very efficient
0
2
4
6
8
10
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Issues involving WorldCat bibliographic description
Romanization Translation Abstract Cross language system
YooJin Ha Rutgers University
Issues involving WorldCat bibliographic description
Romanization - Difficult to understand and formulate the
Romanized words. - It is easy to lose real meaning
- Need to master the specific rules of Romanization.
- Some variation by each individual and in each native language to understand such rules. (i.e. Japanese vs. Korean)
YooJin Ha Rutgers University
Issues involving WorldCat bibliographic description
Translation - English translation is needed in addition to
each different original bibliographic language.
- It would be desirable if the bibliographic description has three components linked together: original native language, English, and Romanization.
YooJin Ha Rutgers University
Issues involving WorldCat bibliographic description
Abstract
Many catalog entries do not include the abstract translated in English. Many subjects were disappointed at this omission.
Cross language system
Although current WorldCat can support a multi language screen to view, users want ability to search in their own language.
YooJin Ha Rutgers University
III. LIS program Experience with LIS courses related to the
standardization of information organization at a global or international level
China Cataloging and classification, Western cataloging
Korea Metadata, KORMARC, DDC, KDC, DL
Taiwan Chinese Book Classification, DDC, LCC
USA Organization and control of recorded information (DDC, MARC), Principles of searching, DL
YooJin Ha Rutgers University
Suggestion for new LIS courses
Cooperative work with LIS professionals
Evaluation of effects of cultural differences on interfaces and catalogs
Cultural diversity and library services
Knowledge communication Standardization of cataloging
Introducing other countries’ catalogs
Multilingual information retrieval
Multilingual text processing
Multilingual thesaurus
Cross-language system design Translation and knowledge
management World information services
Global information service
Multilingual information center
YooJin Ha Rutgers University
Suggestions to resolve language problems in information sharing
“we definitely communicate with people working for various departments. Especially in a huge library, it is important to know who is strong in particular languages beyond departmental boundaries, and to create an environment to encourage librarians to ask language specialists for help. And especially technical service people should have a close relationship with language specialists.”
YooJin Ha Rutgers University
Discussion
Different native languages often engender different perspectives and these express themselves in unstated needs for those using OPAC systems.
- i.e. Romanization is not effective for certain language users in inputting a query in a particular way which may not be translatable to a native users.
- Compared to Korean, Japanese were better able to read the Romanization for Japanese materials.
YooJin Ha Rutgers University
Discussion
It is assumed that there will be more issues related to cultural and language differences which should be addressed when structuring a CLIR (Cross Language Information Retrieval) system for target users.
The socio-cognitive concept attempts to include an
understanding about different needs by different societies which are then incorporated in a user focused worldwide OPAC system.
YooJin Ha Rutgers University
Discussion of LIS program implications
There needs to be better transmission of cultural understandings across countries by students and professionals in LIS.
Global issues are dealt with in cataloging and related courses but this does not appear to have migrated to other parts of the curriculum.
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Discussion
LIS schools on a global level.
The LIS environment could change to expose students to such global concerns across the entire curriculum to encourage cooperative information sharing as well as inculcating an international cohort of students with meaningful applications of international librarianship.
YooJin Ha Rutgers University
Future research plans
Expand the countries surveyed and the number of individuals in each country contacted.
Specific bibliographic information to be explored by each country.
Sensitivity will be needed: a special area
of concern since tensions do exist across borders and cultures
YooJin Ha Rutgers University
Conclusion
Globalization is becoming more important in all parts of contemporary society.
Easier access to information from across the world occurs through the use of the Internet, but there are still barriers to access that valuable information.
Especially for multilingual users, a more efficient and helpful interface is a key component.
YooJin Ha Rutgers University
Conclusion
It is evident that a prototype of a CLIR system such as WorldCat is maturing to address the concerns of its international audience but it will need a cohort of LIS researchers to help it advance through international perspectives.