Among the major objectives established for the OCLC Internet Cataloging Project was the creation of a database of bibliographic records providing access information for electronic files accessible over the Internet. As important as the establishment of conventional bibliographic control of Net resources was the integration of these records into local catalogs, the OCLC Online Union Catalog, and the OCLC FirstSearch service.
In addition to these conventional efforts, the OCLC Internet Cataloging Project also sought to "test the technical feasibility of providing automated access to electronic files based on coded access and location information provided in the bibliographic record (field 856)." This feature has been implemented within InterCat, the project's catalog of Internet resources, and through NetFirst(tm), a broader, yet related, collection of selected Net resources. While the InterCat service does offer direct Internet access to selected resources, its implementation does not use the full functionality of the browser environment nor does it fully utilize the bibliographic data and information that has been incorporated within records to provide enhanced access to these and related resources.
Within a browser environment, users of the InterCat database are offered either forms-supported or non-supported access to a variety of field search options. These include a 'Subject Words' and a 'Subject Phrases' search option, a 'Basic' index, and other conventional record data search options (e.g. 'Publisher', 'OCLC Number', 'Publication Year'). These and all fields can be searched directly, or reviewed and retrieved from a 'Browse Wordlist'.
While subject headings can be searched or browsed within the InterCat database, and relevant records subsequently displayed, the retrieved records do not have a hotlink to other resources assigned the same subject heading. Although users can browse through screens of retrieved record titles, the current configuration does not permit a direct search on other subject headings assigned a resource from within the record itself. Users must initiate a separate search option, and execute a new search for these other subjects. Likewise, while users can browse an alphabetical listing of subject terms or phrases in the present InterCat database, the current system does not offer a browsable structured thesaurus of these terms indicating broader, narrower or related relationships between and among terms or phrases and their associated concepts. In general, this configuration offers users limited explicit and implicit assistance in searching or browsing.
Although the InterCat database does include an assigned call number with the record of each resource, it does not offer directly-searchable or browsable access to an index of these call numbers. In addition, the current system does not offer a browsable annotated schedule that indicates the specific subject coverage of a given classification number or hierarchical group.
NetFirst(tm), a more comprehensive database of cataloged and annotated Internet resources, is to be commended for its use of a graphical floor plan (Fig. A-1)
Fig. A-1
and for its categorization of resources by broad and related subject groups (Fig. A-2).
Mathematics
Physics and Astronomy
Fig. A-2
Each feature inherently facilitates the identification and access to relevant resources by providing context at various levels.
However, while an improvement over the primary implementation of a cataloged Internet database, the resources found within each category in NetFirst(tm), as with most other organized Internet collections, are listed alphabetically. The specific conceptual relationships between resources, which can further facilitate individual and general resource use, are not indicated. To be assured that all relevant resources have not been overlooked, one is required to review all listed resources within a category. Thus, while value has been added in this version, it is limited.
Such methods of conventional organization and access may be viewed as a manifestation of our paper and text-based cultural milieu. NetFirst(tm), and a majority of other schemes, have not yet exploited the full potential of hypertext to present and link resources in non-sequential, non-linear configurations. While CyberStacks(sm) has adopted hypertext and the browser medium to facilitate access to Net resources, NetFirst(tm) has adapted hypertext to facilitate enhanced access to more text.
To provide direct and enhanced access to Web resource, CyberStacks(sm) seeks to make full use of the capability of the World Wide Web itself and the versatility of Web browsers. Key to the CyberStacks(sm) system is a browsable classification scheme that allows users to scan broader or narrower subject categories at will, and then if desired to connect directly to a selected resource.
While the overall organization and structure of CyberStacks(sm) facilitates access to Net resources, access has been further enhanced by the establishment of a matrix of search and browse functions. These include its Combined Classification Index, with selected sections shown below (Fig. A-3),
Library Of Congress Combined Classification Index
Q-Science R-Medicine S-Agriculture T-Technology U-Military V-Naval CyberStacks(sm)
Q
Q
Science (General)
QA
Mathematics
QB
Astronomy
R
R
Medicine (General)
RA
Public Aspects of Health
RB
Pathology
S
S
Agriculture (General)
SB
Plant Culture
SD
Forestry
T
T
Technology (General)
TA
Engineering (General) & Civil Engineering
TC
Hydraulic Engineering
U
U
MilitaryScience (General)
UA
Armies: Organization, Description, Facilities, etc.
UB
Military Administration
V
V
Naval Science (General)
VA
Navies: Organization, Description, Facilities, etc.
VB
Naval Administration
Fig. A-3
a Cross-Classification Index that provides access to more specific categories within these broad classes, as shown in the segment below (Fig. A-4),
Cross-Classification Index
Astronomy (General) QB 1-139 Biology (General QH 301-05 Botany (General) QK 1-474.5 Chemistry (General) QD 1-23.2 Climatology QC 980-993 Computer Science QA 75.5-76.95 Cytology QH 573-671 Human Anatomy QM 1-695 Mammals QL 700-739.3 Mathematics (General) QA 1-8 Mineralogy QE 351-399.2 Natural History (General) QH 1-74 Nature Conservation QH 75-76 Nuclear Physics QC 770-798 Paleobotany QE 901-996.5 Physical Chemistry QD 450-731 Physics (General) QC 1-80 Science (General) Q 1-300 Zoology (General) QL 1-361
Fig. A-4
and a browsable Title Index, a complete alphabetical listing of all titles fully incorporated within its scheme as well as titles that have been selected for future incorporation, with selected sections listed below (Fig. A-5).
Title Index
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z
--A--
--B--
BABEL: A Glossary of Computer Oriented Abbreviations and Acronyms
BeePeople: Directory of E.mail Addresses
Beneficial Insects
--C--
Fig. A-5
A function that would allow users to link directly from a structured thesaurus of all Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH) entries assigned to resources within its collection, currently under development for CyberStacks(sm), would also greatly facilitate access to relevant resources, within the InterCat and NetFirst(tm) databases. As envisioned, such a hypertext thesaurus would outline all the entries assigned to resources in its database, indicate the broader, narrower and related relationships between entries, and provide a hypertext link directly to those records assigned a specific heading.
In cases where a given subject heading has been assigned to more than one resource, users would be provided with a menu of options, including an alphabetical title listing of all resources assigned a specific heading. From this listing, a selection would link users directly to the associated profile within CyberStacks(sm) for that resource, from which users could then subsequently connect.
In addition to adopting the 'neo-conventional' functionality outlined above for CyberStacks(sm), the InterCat database and the NetFirst(tm) service could also benefit from an online subject tree arrangement of the Dewey Decimal Classification, adapting the general (Fig. A-6)
0 GENERALITIES (inc. Library Science, General Reference)
1 PHILOSOPHY (inc. Psychology)
2 RELIGION. THEOLOGY
3 SOCIAL SCIENCES. LAW. GOVERNMENT (inc. Economics, Education)
5 MATHEMATICS AND NATURAL SCIENCES (inc. Chemistry, Biology, Computing)
6 APPLIED SCIENCES. MEDICINE. TECHNOLOGY (inc. Management)
7 THE ARTS. RECREATION. ENTERTAINMENT. SPORT
8 LANGUAGES. LINGUISTICS. LITERATURE
9 GEOGRAPHY. BIOGRAPHY. HISTORY
Fig. A-6
and specific (Fig. A-7) outlines used by the NISS Information Gateway in its use of the Universal Decimal Classification (UDC) to organize and provide access to resources selected for its cybercollection.
62 ENGINEERING
620.1 MATERIALS TESTING
620.4 POWER STATIONS
621 MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
622 MINING
623 MILITARY ENGINEERING
624 CIVIL ENGINEERING
These services could also be enhanced by adapting other features of the NISS service, including a Directory of Subject Headings in UDC order (Fig. A-8)
0 Generalities - 37 resources
00 Knowledge. Fundamentals of knowledge and culture - 0 resources
01 Bibliography - 22 resources
011 Bibliographies - 18 resources
017 Library catalogues - 129 resources
02 Librarianship - 30 resources
03 Reference works - 25 resources
Fig. A-8
as well as a Directory of Subjects in Alphabetical Order (Fig. A-9).
-- A --
Abnormal psychology - 0 Resources Accountancy systems: Application software - 1 Resources Accountancy: Management - 4 Resources-- B --
Back up programs: Computing - 0 Resources Balkans: Geography - 1 Resources Batch processors: Utility programs - 0 Resources-- C --
Cable industry - 0 Resources Calendar processors: Application software - 1 Resources Carpentry: Building industry - 0 ResourcesFig. A-9
Such enhancements not only facilitate access by providing direct connection to a resource, or to a profile if desired, but like the CyberStacks(sm) approach, present a framework in which relationships between and among resources are indicated.
The use of formatted tables within CyberStacks(sm) presenting broad and specific subjects and their associated call numbers, as well as links from each class to related classes through a variety of structured hotlinks (Fig. A-10), enhances navigation through the CyberStacks(sm) collection, and could likewise enhance access within reconfigured InterCat and NetFirst(tm) databases.
Science -- Botany
(QK)
Q-Science R-Medicine S-Agriculture T-Technology U-Military V-Naval
SELECT QK Botany (General)
1-474.5 Spermatophyta & Phanerogams
474.8-494.5 Gymnosperms
494-494.5 Angiosperms
495 Cryptogams
504-638 Plant Anatomy
640-707 Plant Physiology
710-899 Plant Ecology
900-989 CyberStacks(sm)
QK
Q QA QB QC QD QE QH QK QL QM QP QR Fig. A-10
The use of appropriate icons in CyberStacks(sm) in association with broad and general subjects, at primary and secondary levels (Fig. A-11), offers users visual clues that also can facilitate access to resources of potential relevance within its collection. OCLC should consider use of similar icons within a redesigned interface to both the NetFirst(tm) and InterCat databases to further enhance access and use of these resources.
Science (Q)
Q-Science R-Medicine S-Agriculture T-Technology U-Military V-Naval
Science (General)
Q
Mathematics
QA
Astronomy
QB
Physics
QC
Chemistry
QD
Geology
QE
Natural History & Biology
QH
Botany
QK
Zoology
QL
Human Anatomy
QM
Physiology
QP
Microbiology
QR
Fig. A-11
