MetaCRIS: Metadata for Research Digital Libraries

This paper describes a metadata model for Research Digital Libraries called MetaCRIS.

MetaCRIS is a hierarchical metadata model that enables querying of libraries at different levels

of abstraction. The model allows users to browse the underlying data sets and narrow the

search space as they go deeper into the hierarchy. It encompasses three levels of abstraction.

At the top level, information is mainly domain specific and less data dependent. At this level,

there are catalogues describing the collections of different research subjects stored in the DL

and ontologies, which are generic concepts applicable to specific domains. At the middle level,

metadata about individual research projects are stored. At the bottom level, different

multimedia data types are represented. Resources supported include reports, publications,

references, images, video, audio and maps. At this level, not only metadata but also the

functions are data type dependent. This model can be implemented using three approaches.

The first one is to implement MetaCRIS in a digital library for Intranet access. The second one,

extends the digital library by adding Web access. The third approach adds Z39.50 protocol

capabilities for searching and retrieving data sets and links MetaCRIS with other Z39.50

MetaCRIS in order to interoperate. Finally, integrating these approaches might generate a

CRIS Web Portal powered by a Z39.50 search engine.