Comparison of used metadata elements in digital libraries in iran with dublin core standard

IJRET: International Journal of Research in Engineering and Technology ISSN: 2319-1163
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Volume: 02 Issue: 03 | Mar-2013, Available @ http://www.ijret.org 398
COMPARISON OF USED METADATA ELEMENTS IN DIGITAL
LIBRARIES IN IRAN WITH DUBLIN CORE STANDARD
Somayyeh Nadi Ravandi1, 2
, Mohsen Haji Zeinolabedini3
1
Office Head of the Supervision and Evaluation of Research Plans, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, I.R.
Iran
2
Ph.D.Candidate, Department of Library and Information Science, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran Email:
Nadi_so@kaums.ac.ir
3
PhD Assistant Professor of ASIDC www.agrisis.org E-mail: zabedini@gmail.com
Abstract
Introduction: Internet and Wide World Web development, as well as the increasing content of electronic information resources in the
web environment has created many challenges front of organizers and managers of information. One of the fundamental challenges is
how to manage electronic resources to increase their accessibilities, to increase recall and precision. A new way that in recent years
has been created for encounter with this problem is metadata. The most important environments that can use from metadata are
digital libraries (DLs). Because of rapid development of DLs in Iran and organization and management importance of resources in
these libraries, in this research has been paid to investigation of usage of metadata elements in DLs in Iran and their adaptation rate
with Dublin Core standard.
Method: This research is survival descriptive research. First used metadata elements has been determinate in DLs in Iran and then
has been paid to adaptation rate of used metadata elements in eight DLs in Iran with Dublin Core standard using of a check list.
Findings: Findings of research showed none of DLs in Iran have not used from special metadata schema like Dublin Core and etc.
But this research showed 100 percent of libraries have used from general metadata elements (HTML metatags). “Omid-e Iran “DL
using 7 elements is in first rank and “DID” DL using 1 element is in last rank.
Result: Findings denote used metadata elements are limited to html metatags that in between these elements a few number are
adaptation with Dublin Core elements. We hope managers and designers of DLs study researches and step impressively for more
standardization of DLs in Iran.
Keywords: Digital libraries, Metadata, Metatags, Dublin Core, Iran
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1. INTRODUCTION
Spread and consisting of internet and World Wide Web lead to
provide capabilities, variation environment to produce, process,
storage and generally access to information for all people that
spread of digital libraries is example of these capabilities. On
the other hand, this phenomenon, such as many others, is
important from the aspect of designing, planning, accessibility
and how the information inters to these environments. Here,
recently, it is developed pattern to enter, organize, place and
manage the information for digital libraries, that some
examples are metadata plans, like Dublin Core standard, Text
Encoding Initiative, Metadata Encoding and Transmission
Standards. The present research considers applying metadata in
digital libraries in Iran and adaptation level of used elements
with Dublin Core standard.
2. RELATED WORK
Many researches are done in this scope. Haji Zeinolabedini
(2001) in his research about considering applied metadata
elements in 28 Persian site, shows that foreign ministry site
with applying 10 elements has the highest amount and
agricultural ministry with applying just one element, has the
lowest amount to apply metadata elements.
Sharif research (2007) in considering the effect of five
metadata elements in Dublin core on an electronic paper with
81 pages, shows that search engines aren‟t pay attention to
presence of metadata elements and "title" element in "HTML"
is the most effective.
Majidi and Pishva research findings (2007) shows that rate of
applying "keyword" and "description" in open access
magazines is 33.1 and 29.9 percent. In Bahmanabadi research

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(2005) was determined that more than 90 percent of persian
sites at least use one of metatags. Gilvari and Mehrad research
findings (2005) in considering applied rate of metatags in
designing 97 Persian electronic magazines showed that 26.9
percent of them use metatags. In Saadat and Jowkar research
(2009) mentioned that 20 libraries from 70 world national
library use metatag (public metadata) against special metadata
in web pages. Mohammad (2006) in considering 150 search
pages of 3 search engine (Altavista, HotBot, Infoseek) resulted
that adding metadata elements, increase these pages rank in
these 3 search engines.
Also, Alimohammadi research (2001) showed that only 31.5
percent of websites, use keyword metatag, and usage rate of
"description" metatags were 24.6 percent. Lawrence and Gills
(in Alimohammadi, 2003 and Pisha and Majidi, 2007)
considering usage rate of metadata showed that 34.2 percent of
web pages, use from HTML metadata.
Craven (2000) determined 56.8 percent of mentioned pages,
used metatags. Qin and Wesley (in Alimohammadi, 2003 and
Pisha and majidi, 2007) with using four search engines
resulted that only 253 pages use HTML metadata.
Lei Zhang and Jastram (2006) with studying 24000 pages
resulted that 62.83 percent of metadata plans on internet are
"HTML" tags, 7.42 percent include Dublin core metadata and
44.12 percent include another metadata plans. Guinchard
(2002) in considering using rate of different libraries from
Dublin Core metadata for describing their resources showed
that major libraries that use these metadata are national
libraries. Also, result of this research showed that 73 percent of
these libraries use metadata like Doblin core, that 61 percent of
these libraries use "HTML" language to encoding Dublin Core
elements. And Karpenko (1998) resulted that 43.3 percent of
these libraries use metadata that software consider for web
pages automatically and 41.5 percent of libraries don't use
metatags at all.
3. PROBLEM STATEMENT:
One of basic elements in every library and information center is
organizing information resources. After selecting and providing
resources, the organizing stage is the most sensitive
responsibilities in libraries and information centers because that
library and information center that has rich information
resources, but has not ability to access that information for its
society, will not have necessary effective. Making accessible
resources can't obtain except with correct organizing and
indexing and abstracting them. Traditional libraries use
bibliographic records in form of copy or electronic to reach this
goal. But we use another way to organize electronic resources
with regard to their difference with copy resources. Recent
development to offer new methods in organizing electronic
resources and many projects in this scope is showing world
tendency to use these new methods to describe, locate,
organize, search, documentation, and evaluate of electronic
resources. One of those new methods is metadata. The goal of
metadata is describing, locating, organizing, searching,
documenting, evaluating, selecting information resources and
generally managing electronic resources. Perhaps we can say
the main place to apply metadata is digital libraries with
different performances. The main problem in this research is
considering attention to applying metadata elements in digital
libraries construction in Iran and their adaption level with
Dublin Core standard. Determining applied metadata elements
in these libraries and compare with Dublin Core standard as
world criteria to storage, organizing and retrieving information
in web environment will show that how is situation to apply
metadata elements and standardization level of these elements
in digital libraries in Iran.
4. METHODOLOGY:
4.1 Research Method
The research method is descriptive survival method. With using
survey method, first considered metatags in digital libraries
websites and then determined adaption rate of these elements
with Dublin Core metadata elements using one adapting
checklist of "HTML" language metatags with Dublin Core
elements
4.2. Research Society:
Research society was 8 digital libraries websites in Iran. To
determine these DLs, we use available list in Astan-e Ghos
Digital library website as only available list. Also, there were
done many searches with using Google search engine that was
distinguished 110 sites was started with name of "digital
library", "electronic library" and "virtual library" in Iran. 13
weblogs were deleted because of lack adaption with digital
library criteria. Also, 14 libraries were deleted because of lack
accessibility and 45 libraries had not any action and 8 libraries
were eliminated because of lack available full text resources
and 14 libraries because of difference with Iran rules. Among
the other 11 libraries, 3 of them remove because of not
answering to researchers questions from the society. In this
way, main work has done on 8 digital libraries. The study was
done from July to September 2010
5. PROJECT QUESTIONS:
1. Which digital library in Iran use metadata elements?
2. Which metadata elements are used in digital libraries
in Iran?
3. How many of applied metadata in digital libraries in
Iran adapt to Dublin core metadata?

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6. FINDINGS:
In relating to first research question, and to determine libraries
that use metadata, findings showed that non of digital libraries
in Iran didn't use special metadata initiatives for example
Dublin Core and text encoding initiative. But Consideration of
these libraries websites showed that all libraries (100 percent)
use from common metadata elements (HTML metatags).
In relating to second research question, libraries websites was
considered with using Netscape and Internet Explorer and was
extracted "HTML" metatags (common metadata). These
metatags include 2 metatags types: HTTP-EQUIV metatags
and name attribute metatags (table 1).
Table1: Used metadata elements in Digital libraries in Iran
Library Name MetatagHTTP-Equive Meta name Attribute Frequency
Omid-e Iran
Content-Type, Expire,
Rating
Description, Author, Copyright, Revisit, Title,
Relation Robot, Keyword
11
Yassobeldin
Cache control, Content,
Progma, Type
Title, Description, Robot-Revisit 8
Ahlolbayt Content-Type, Progid Title, Description, Robot-Orginator 6
Parstak Language, Content-Type Title, Keyword, Author, Description 6
Downloadbook ------------------- Robot, Author, Description, Keyword, Revisit 5
Tebyan ------------------- Tebyan-Keyword-Copyright-Relation-Verify 5
Hawzah Language-Progid Title 3
DID -------------------- Title 1
Considering special digital libraries websites showed that
" Omid-e Iran" digital library with 11 Elements is in first rank
and "Yasob Aldin" , "Parstech" and "Ahlolbait" with using
8,6,6 elements are in the next ranks, after that "Tebyan" and
"Downloadbook" digital libraries place with using 5
elements."Howzah" digital library with using 3 elements is in
fourth rank. And "DID" digital library with 1 element is in
fifth rank.
The chart 1 shows that "title" element with 87.5 percent had
the most usage among digital libraries. Also "description" and
"keyword" elements are used in 5 libraries (62.5 percent); and
placed in second rank. 50 percent of libraries have used
"Revisit" and "Author" (37.7 percent) and "Copy rights",
"language", "progid" and "Relation” are used in 2 libraries (25
percent) and other elements placed in next rank.
To answer third question in research, it was used one adaptive
table among "HTML" metatags and Dublin Core elements to
determine adaption rate of metadata elements in digital
libraries in Iran with Dublin Core standard and was
distinguished amount of this adaption. Findings have been
show in tables 2 and 3 and chart 2.

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Table2: Adaptation Table of Used Metadata Elements in Digital Libraries in Iran with Dublin Core Metadata
No. HTML Elements Dublin Core Elements Frequency Percent
1 Title Title 7 87.5
2 Description Description 5 62.5
3 Keyword, Classification, Subject Subject 5 62.5
4 Expire, Rivisit Date 4 50
5 Creator Creator 3 37.5
6 Copyright Rights 2 25
7 Relation Relation 2 25
8 Language Language 2 25
9 Sourse Type Type ------- -------
10 Source Source ------- -------
11 Format Format ------- -------
12 Electronic Address Identifier ------- -------
13 Contributor Contributor ------- -------
14 Coverage Coverage ------- -------
15 Publisher Publisher ------- -------
Table 2 determine that just 9 elements (with consideration
"Expire" and "Revisit" as 2 elements) of 17 elements applied in
digital libraries in Iran adapted with Dublin Core. Also, 7
elements of "Type, "Resource", "Format", "Identifier",
"Contribute", "Coverage", and "Publisher", "Title" elements
with 87.5 percent (7 libraries) have the most rate in 5 libraries.
"History" element has been used in four libraries (50 percent)
and "Creator" in 3 libraries."Copy rights" and "language" and
"relation" elements have been used in 2 libraries.
Table3: Rate of Used Metadata Elements Digital library in Iran adapted with Dublin Core Standards
Library Name Identical Elements with Dublin Core Frequency
Omid-e Iran Description, Author, Copyright, Title, Date(
Rivisit, Expire), Relation, Keyword
7
Parstech Title, Keyword, Author, Description,
Language,
5
Downloadbook Author, Description, Keyword, Date(Rivisit) 4
Tebyan Title, Keyword, Copyright, Relation 4
Yasoob Aldin Date(Rivisit), Title, Keyword, Description 4
Ahlolbait Title, Description 2
Hawzah Language, Title 2
DID Title 1

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From table 3 and Chart 2 was determined that " Omid-e Iran"
digital library with 7 elements has reach first rank in adaption
and 46.66 percent is mapped with Dublin Core standard.
"Parstech" library with 5 elements is adapted with this standard
and placed in second rank (33.3 percent).
"Downloadbook", "Tebyan" and " Yasoob Aldin", libraries
with 26.67 adaption percent placed in third rank of comparison.
"Hawzah" and "Ahlolbait" libraries with 13.33 percent placed
in fourth range. "DID" digital library with one element placed
in fourth rank of adaption with Dublin Core standard.
7. RESULT AND DISCUSSION:
Results of consideration in this research showed that digital
libraries in Iran do not use any special metadata initiative like
Dublin Core. But these consideration shows that all of them
use General Meta data elements, that is , metatags in "HTML"
language, and this shows that how much managers and
designers inform from the importance of metadata. In another
researches have been proved the importance of metatags. For
example, Saadat (2006) in his research about world national
libraries websites resulted that just 56.5 percent of used
metadata in national libraries websites are metatags. He said
that such results showing that there is rather tendency to use
metatag in national libraries web site and this situation say that
more than half of designers are inform from metadata benefits.
Bahmanabadi research (2005) showed that more than 90
percent of best Persian sites use one kind of metatags more or
less. Gilvari and Mehrad (2005) findings shows that among 98
Persian magazines, just 26.9 percent of them use metatags.
"Gills" and "Lawrence"(in Alimohammadi, 2003; Pishva &
Majidi 2007) research shows that 34.2 percent of web pages
use HTML language metadata. Also, Craven (2000) research
shows 56.8 pages apply metatags or Jastram (2006) research on
24000 pages shows major applied of metatags in pages are
HTML codes (62.83 percent). 7.42 percent pages include
Dublin Core metadata and 44.12 percent cover other metadata
Initiatives. All of these studies show that metatags and
metadata applied in web pages header have high importance in
organizing of these pages. Even, results of some studies (like
Zhang and Jastram, 2006; and Saadat, 2007) are showing more
attention of designers to metatags and indicate that there is no
significant difference in ranking of pages that use of metatags
and metadata in search engines. For example "Mohammad"
(2006) in his research resulted that with adding metadata
elements, rank of these pages increase in 3 search engines
(Altavista, HotBot, info seek). But there isn‟t significant
difference between some that use Dublin Core and in some that
use tags. However, there is a lot of research in this field that
showing wide usage of metadata initiatives like Dublin Core in
some scopes. For example, Guinchard (2002) consider Dublin
Core standard rate in libraries and shows that 73 percent of
libraries use metadata like Dublin Core.
About applying of elements and adaption rate with Dublin
Core, was determined that "title" element with 87.5 percent
usage, have the most usage rate among digital libraries. The
“description” and “keyword” elements were used in 5 libraries
and other elements placed in next ranks. Many studies about
this field prove the importance of "title", "description" and
"keyword" elements. For example, "Saadat (2007)" in his
research showed world national libraries use "title" element
more than other elements. In open access magazines, Pishva &
Majidi(2007) showed that usage rate of "keywords" and
"description" elements are 33.1 and 29.9 percent respectively.
"Mohammad" study shows that among 150 web pages that
researchers searched by 3 search engine Altavista, Hot Bot and
infoseek, 84 percent of pages have "description" and
"keyword" elements in "HTML" page. According to present
research and Mohammad research, we can understand that
applying "description" and "title" elements have a lot of
importance for search engine. Also, the rate of applying
"history" metatag in pages, in 13 percent and for Dublin Core
pages is 45 percent, but in present research, “history“ element
applied as a “revisit” and “expire” in 50 percent web pages of
digital libraries.
Alimohammadi (2004), also studied to determine usage
metatagas in Iranian websites. He in this research show that just
31.5 percent of websites use "keyword" tags and usage rate of
metatags was 24.6 percent, which, these results were equal to
62.5 percent for digital libraries in Iran.
Zhang and jastram (2006) show that "description" and
"keyword" elements are the most public elements to organize
resources. This publicity proved for digital libraries in Iran.
Results from another researches shows that little amount of
creators benefit for 5 elements to organize their resources, and
another had less benefit, but present study shows that digital
libraries in Iran about 62.5 percent libraries benefit from 5 or
more elements in designing websites.

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CONCLUSIONS
Digital libraries are products of human thoughts in
communication era. Perhaps it is one of symbols in world
village opinion of Marshal McLuhan. Continuous
communication with many resources in varies frames and
virtual pictures without any place and time limitation are
attractive in such environments and these attractive are factors
of developing these libraries. In Iran, during past several years,
we saw many increasing growth in digital libraries, 110
websites that are digital libraries, are witness of this claim. In
present research, to compare metadata elements with Dublin
Core standard, distinguished those digital libraries in Iran didn't
use special metadata designs and metadata elements just limit
to HTML metatags and this is a challenge on developing of
digital libraries in Iran. It is hoped that digital libraries
managers and designers start effective stages to standard more I
digital libraries in Iran.
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Retrieved Abstract 26 Feb. 2007
http://www.magiran.com/searchp.asp?field=all&s=%DA%C7
%D8%DD%E5+%D4%D1%ED%DD
Suplement1:
Investigated Digital library Address
DID: http://www.did.ir
Yassob Aldin: http://www.yasoob.com/fa/index.html
Parsteck: http://www.parstech.org
Tebyan: http://www.tebyan.net/Library.html
Ahlolbait: http://lib.ahlolbait.ir
Hawzah: http://www.hawzah.net/Per/K/Index.htm
Omid-e iran: http://www.irpdf.com/
Downloadbook : http://www.downloadbook.net

Comparison of used metadata elements in digital libraries in iran with dublin core standard

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