Impact of Authority Data on Search in the German Digital Library: A Glimpse at the Cataloguing Praxis in Museums

Authors

Keywords:

Heritage Informatics, Cultural Heritage Portal, Museum Cataloguing, Data Exchange, Retrieval, Search Filters, Authority Data, Controlled Vocabulary, Faceted Search, Explorative Search.

Abstract

Cataloguing information in museums is often described as unsatisfactory in a generalized way – be it in cross-sector comparison, or in reference to the specific requirements of data exchange. Consequently, museum data may deliver unsatisfactory search results in the German Digital Library, thereby hamper explorative searches in this portal. In addition, the heterogeneity of museum objects, museum data and the cataloguing practice might have a negative effect on the value pool of certain search filters. This means, at least for museum objects, that those filters cannot be used as intended, which significantly impairs faceted searching in the portal. This study attempts to identify how certain museum cataloguing habits affect searching and, in particular, the usability of the respective filters in the German Digital Library. At the same time, it will be determined how certain insufficiencies of searching in the portal are related to the lack of authority data or their use in museum cataloguing. 

Author Biography

  • Domenic Städtler, Institute for Museum Research of the Berlin State Berlin, Germany

    Domenic Städtler took his doctorate in ancient history on ancient numismatics. Presently he is doing research at the Institute for Museum Research of the Berlin State Museums, Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation on "Use of authority data to optimize search and filter options for museum objects in the Digital Archives" to investigate how the search for museum objects can be optimized through a more consistent use of authority data and filter options can lead to greater search accuracy in the cross-sector portal for digital cultural heritage. Previously, he worked at the German Digital Library's Museum Desk based at the Institute for Museum Research. He provided scientific support for the integration of digital object information from German museums into the German Digital Library and provided consultancy to museums on developing cultural heritage portals

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Published

2024-03-07

Issue

Vol. 11 No. 1 (2024): Heritage Informatics

Section

Articles

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