Master of Science / Electronic theses and dissertations (ETDs) are structured documents in which chapters are major components. There is a lack of any repository that contains chapter boundary details alongside these structured documents. Revealing these details of the documents can help increase accessibility. This research explores the manipulation of ETDs marked up using LaTeX to generate chapter boundaries. We use this to create a data set of 1,459 ETDs and their chapter boundaries. Additionally, for the task of automatic segmentation of unseen documents, we prototype three deep learning models that are trained using this data set. We hope to encourage researchers to incorporate LaTeX manipulation techniques to create similar data sets.

This research is an effort to test our hypothesis that a software agent based architecture will provide a better response time and will be more maintainable and reusable than the present J2EE based architecture of DLNET (Digital Library Network for Engineering and Technology). We have taken a portion of the complete DLNET application for our study, namely the Content Review Process, as our test bed. In this work, we have explored the use of software agents in the current setup of DLNET for the first time, specifically for the Content Review part of the application and tried to evaluate the performance of the resulting application. Our work is a novel approach of doing content review using software agent architecture. The proposed system is an automated process that will asynchronously look for suitable reviewers based on content (the input) and create logs for the administrator to view and analyze. In the first part of the thesis we develop a new system that is parallel to the existing DLNET Content Review Process. In the second part, we compare the newly developed Content Review Process with the baseline (old Content review Process) by designing comparison tests and measuring instruments. This part of the thesis includes the selection of dependent variables, design of various measurement instruments, execution of the quasi-experiments and analysis of the empirical results of comparisons tests. The quasi-experiments are done to measure the response time, maintainability, scalability, correctness, reliability and reusability of the two systems. The results show that the proposed software agent based system gives better response time (an improvement ranging from 57% to 82%) and is more maintainable (an improvement ranging from 16% to 67%) and more reusable (an improvement ranging from 1% to 26%). The improvement in the response time may be attributed to the fact that the agent based systems are inherently multithreaded while the existing content review system is a serial application. Both the systems, however, give comparable results for other dependent variables. / Master of Science

Archeological research embracing complex Information Technology techniques can result in vast quantities of heterogeneous information from different sites in different formats. ETANA-DL is an Archeological Digital Library (DL), providing services suited for the archeological domain. With a growing collection of records in the DL, it is a challenge to present them in an organized and meaningful way. We have designed a new visual browsing interface called ETANA-CMV that aims to provide users a richer and more insightful browsing experience. ETANA-CMV allows users to navigate through the records in ETANA-DL that are multidimensional, hierarchical, and categorical in nature. ETANA-CMV was designed to be scalable, flexible, and easy to learn. This interface employs a data cube based browsing index to counter performance issues that usually limit the interactivity of visual browsing interfaces to DLs. The interface has been integrated with the existing Browse Interface and the search service in ETANA-DL. Formative evaluation of the new visual interface led to several improvements in the interface. It appears that users were able to detect trends in the DL collections more accurately using visualization based strategies than with the existing textual browse interface. / Master of Science

Schema mapping is a challenging problem. It has come to the fore in recent years; there are important applications like database schema integration and, more recently, digital library (DL) merging of heterogeneous data. With Schema Mapper we demonstrate a semi-automatic tool for schema integration that combines a novel visual interface with an algorithm-based recommendation engine. We use ETANA-DL, a digital library developed to support integration of data from Near Eastern archaeology sites, as we explore integrating new collections. Schemas are visualized as hyperbolic trees, thus allowing more schema nodes to be displayed at one time. Matches to selections are recommended to the user, which makes the mapping operation easier and faster. Once the user has completed the mapping operation, a wrapper (XSLT Style Sheet) is created automatically with the mappings which can be applied to transform source XML files into target XML files. Schema Mapper allows editing the target schema as part of the process of incremental enrichment of the target schema. This involves operations like adding a node as a child, renaming a node, and deleting a node. The changes to the target schema also can be logged to disk. Schema Mapper has been applied to integrate the Megiddo Collection successfully into the ETANA-DL Union Catalog. It also has been applied for data-level mapping, to ensure consistency of data representation to the users who access the information through services provided by the DL. Formative evaluation and a preliminary comparison with MapForce suggest that Schema Mapper may be usefully employed for schema mapping. / Master of Science

The high demand for building digital libraries by non-experts requires a simplified modeling process and rapid generation of digital libraries. To enable rapid generation, digital libraries should be modeled with descriptive languages. A visual modeling tool would be helpful to non-experts so they may model a digital library without knowing the theoretical foundations and the syntactical details of the descriptive language. In this thesis, we describe the design and implementation of a domain-specific visual modeling tool, 5SGraph, aimed at modeling digital libraries. 5SGraph is based on a metamodel that describes digital libraries using the 5S theory. The output from 5SGraph is a digital library model that is an instance of the metamodel, expressed in the 5S description language (5SL). 5SGraph presents the metamodel in a structured toolbox, and provides a top-down visual building environment for designers. The visual proximity of the metamodel and instance model facilitates requirements gathering and simplifies the modeling process. Furthermore, 5SGraph maintains semantic constraints specified by the 5S metamodel and enforces these constraints over the instance model to ensure semantic consistency and correctness. 5SGraph enables component reuse to reduce the time and efforts of designers. The results from a pilot usability test confirm the usefulness of 5SGraph. / Master of Science

This study explored and described decision factors related to technology adoption. The research used diffusion of innovations and communities of practice (CoP) theoretical frameworks and a case study of Web services technology in the digital library (DL) environment to develop an understanding of the decision-making process. A qualitative case study approach was used to investigate the research problems and data were collected through semi-structured interviews, documentary evidence (e.g., meeting minutes), and a comprehensive member check. The research conducted face-to-face and phone interviews with seven respondents with different job titles (administraive vs. technical) from five different DL programs selected based on distinctive characteristics such as size of the DL program. Findings of the research suggested that the decision-making process is a complex process in which a number of factors are considered when making technology adoption decisions. These factors are categorized as organizational, individual, and technology specific factors. Further, data showed that DL CoPs played an important role in enabling staff members of a DL program to access up-to-date and experienced-based knowledge, provided a distributed problem solving and learning environment, facilitating informal communication and collaborative activities, and informing the decision-making process.

Resumen: Partiendo de una reflexión epistemológica se dilucida conceptualmente la biblioteca digital y se proyecta un modelo de carácter nacional. Se toman en consideración, y se estudian, los proyectos más relevantes que dieron origen a las bibliotecas digitales en USA y Europa, al igual que las investigaciones y los desarrollos alcanzados por la Federación Internacional de Bibliotecas Digitales. A partir de estos estudios, se hace un examen sobre las potencialidades de Colombia para soportar el proyecto y para ello se estudian las políticas estatales e institucionales en los campos de sistemas de información, telecomunicaciones y sistemas, tanto del sector público como el privado, al igual que la población con capacidad para acceder a los servicios de una biblioteca digital de carácter nacional. Posteriormente se caracteriza el usuario de una biblioteca digital y se reflexiona la relación del usuario con los componentes tecnológicos, analizando como éste participa y actúa en estos ámbitos. Los argumentos anteriores aportan elementos para definir, qué tipo de biblioteca se debe crear, qué se pretende con ella, cuáles son sus metas y cuáles son las directrices estratégicas para su desarrollo, lo cual se complementa con la formulación de la visión, misión y alcance de la misma. Con estas definiciones, y con base en la comparación de diferentes bibliotecas digitales nacionales de América y Europa, especialmente la Biblioteca Virtual Miguel de Cervantes, se tienen las bases del modelo de organización de la Biblioteca Digital de Colombia, que se presenta ajustado a la legislación colombiana y a los modelos administrativos de las entidades públicas y privadas. La organización que se propone es la de una Fundación, describiendo los órganos de gobierno y los componentes operativos y se precisa la organización administrativa y técnica interna. Cumplidos todos los requisitos administrativos y jurídicos, se aboca el estudio del componente tecnológico de la biblioteca y se inicia con la arquitectura del sistema de la misma, basando la decisión en cuatro estudios: 1) conceptualización de la arquitectura del sistema, 2) definir el modelo de la arquitectura del sistema, 3) seleccionar el software aplicativo, y 4) proponer el modelo lógico y físico de la plataforma y el software asociado para la digitalización de los documentos. Conocida la plataforma tecnológica de la arquitectura del sistema, se hace un estudio de las colecciones potenciales para conformar la biblioteca, proponiendo como colección básica la de la Biblioteca Nacional de Colombia, de la cual se hace un análisis y descripción detallada. Posteriormente, se presenta un estudio que permite ver las relaciones usuarios- entornos -servicios, con lo cual, y con base en sitios Web de bibliotecas digitales lideres en el mundo, se proponen un conjunto de servicios potenciales. Teniendo en cuenta que la organización técnica de las bibliotecas digitales, fundamentan su organización en procedimientos y normas de carácter internacional, se definen y describen los macroprocesos de una biblioteca digital con todos sus procedimientos y normas. Finalmente, se propone en su estructura y funcionamiento el sistema nacional participativo, que es el componente exógeno de la Biblioteca Digital de Colombia; el desarrollo que se hace del Sistema es solo a nivel de diseño general, dado que su implementación y puesta en funcionamiento esta sujeto a que se cumplan las etapas de creación, organización y operación de la Biblioteca, en especial lo concerniente a políticas de colecciones, servicios, arquitectura del sistema y adopción de procedimientos y normas. / Based on an epistemological reflection, the digital library is conceptually elucidated and a model of national character is projected. To reaffirm this initiative, the most relevant projects that gave rise to the digital libraries in the USA and Europe, as well as the research and development accomplished by the International Federation of Digital Libraries, will be taken into consideration and studied. Based on these studies, there will be a review to determine the potential that Colombia has to support the project including a study of state policies and institutional resources in the fields of information systems, public and private telecommunications systems, and the people with the ability to access the services of a digital library of national character. Subsequently the user of a digital library is characterized and the relationship between the user and the technological components is typified, analyzing how the user acts and participates in this capacity. All the above arguments contribute elements to define what sort of library should be set up, its intent, its goals, and the strategic directions for its development, which are complemented by the formulation of the vision, mission and scope of the same. Based on the comparison of different national digital libraries in America and Europe, particularly the Virtual Library Miguel de Cervantes, the foundation for the organizational model of the Digital Library of Colombia is provided, set to comply with Colombian legislation and the administrative models of public and private entities. The organizational structure proposed is that of a Foundation, describing government bodies, operational components, and the required internal administrative and technical configuration. The study of the technological component of the library will be determined after the fulfillment of all legal and administrative requirements, starting with the system's architecture and basing the decision on four studies: 1) conceptualization of the system's architecture; 2) to define the model of the system's architecture; 3) selecting the application software; and 4) proposing the logical and physical model of the platform and the associated software for scanning documents. After the technological platform of the system's architecture is known, there will be a study of what potential collections will compose the library, using the National Library of Colombia, of which there is an analysis and detailed description, as its basic collection. Subsequently, a study will be conducted to determine the relationships between user-environments-services, and based on Web sites of leading digital libraries in the world, a set of potential services will be proposed. The procedures and rules, as well as the macro processes of the digital library, will be defined and described, taking into consideration that the technical organization of digital libraries is founded on procedures and rules of international character. Finally, the participatory national system, which is the exogenous component of the Digital Library of Colombia, is proposed in the structure and operation of the library; the development of the system is currently at the preliminary design level, since its implementation and operation is subject to the fulfillment of the stages of creation, organization and operation of the library, and in particular issues relating to the services, the collections' policies, the system's architecture, and the adoption of procedures and standards.

State digital libraries are manifestations of the diffusion of technology that has provided both access to and delivery of digital content. Whether the content is being accessed and used equitably in K-12 schools has not been assessed. Determining patterns of the diffusion of use across socioeconomic groups in K-12 schools may help measure the success of existing efforts to provide equitable access and use of digital content, and help guide policies and implementation to more effectively address remaining disparities. This study examined use of the Connecticut Digital Library (ICONN) in K-12 schools in Connecticut by determining annual patterns of use per school/district over a four-year period, using transaction log search statistics. The data were analyzed in the paradigm that Rogers (2003) describes as the first and second dimensions of the consequences of an innovation - the overall growth and the equality of the diffusion to individuals within an intended audience --- in this case, students in K-12 schools. Data were compared by school district and the established socioeconomic District Reference Groups (DRGs) defined by the Connecticut State Board of Education. At the time of this study, ICONN used aggregate data (total searches) for K-12 schools, but did not have relevant data on diffusion within the public schools in Connecticut related to district or DRGs.

Advances in Internet technologies have made it seemingly possible and easy to create digital collections, repositories and libraries. However, supporting diverse information uses that facilitate interaction beyond searching and browsing is in the early stages. Interactive digital libraries, or interactional digital libraries as we prefer to call them, are still evolving. This special issue tries to bring together work that is being done to incorporate interactivity in digital libraries.

The "digital library" (DL) is a communication technology that has the potential to improve communication by removing temporal and geographic barriers and by introducing interactivity. This research focused on the adoption of digital libraries for electronic theses and dissertations (ETD-DL) at universities worldwide. ETD-DLs provide a means for universities to learn about implementing digital libraries in a networked environment.This research used diffusion of innovation theory to explore what has influenced ETD-DL adoption among Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations (NDLTD) member universities. Communication channels were categorized as being either interpersonal or mediated. The perceived importance of these channels was assessed both within and between organizations. Although ETD-DL adoption is an organizational level decision it has implications for both the university and members of the university community. In some cases, these outcomes may be in conflict; for example, what is best for the organization may result in complications for an individual. Therefore the perceived importance of two innovation attributes, relative advantage and compatibility, were examined at both the collective and individual level.This study employed a web-based survey to collect data from the 133 universities in 26 countries that were NDLTD members in December 2002. Respondents were members of the university's "ETD Committee" and represented academic administrators, faculty, librarians, and computer systemsspecialists. Surveys were received from 95 respondents representing 65 universities in 14 countries. Twenty-one of these universities were outside the United States. Universities were from countries with a wide range of economic development.Results provide insights into university attitudes towards a technological innovation for knowledge dissemination. For example, results suggest that interpersonal channels of communication are more important than mediated channels within the organization. Additionally, interpersonal channels are more important for communication within the organization than between organizations. However, mediated channels of communication are more important for those universities that have decided to adopt the ETD-DL but have not yet implemented the union catalog or self-archiving options. There were also significant differences in the importance attributed to these channels by individuals in different jobs. The results also suggest strategies that could encourage development of digital libraries within a social system.