Chiao-Min Lin
Professor, Graduate Institute of Library,
Information and Archival Studies, National Chengchi University Email: cmlin@nccu.edu.tw
Ming-Yi Lin
Librarian, National Central Library Email: ming@ncl.edu.tw
Keywords: Ancient book Database; Database functions; Users’ need
【Abstract】
Due to the development of emerging information technology and system function, the users of ancient book database pay more attention to the functions of system than before. This study aims to explore the users’ need of Chinese ancient book database. Firstly, the interface analysis of the ancient book databases was carried out to compare the current functions of database interface in Taiwan’s institutions. The questionnaire survey was used to understand the researchers' experience and expectations for the use of the ancient books database system. The results indicated that existing database functions can met the basic search needs of users, however, the emerging digital humanity functions were insufficiency. Most users still stayed in the basic functions of search and browsing, and had low recognition for emerging functions. The findings of the paper can be valuable references for Chinese ancient book databases in perfecting full text and metadata, improving their basic functions, upgrading digital content analysis functions, establishing thematic and integrated databases.
【Long Abstract】
Introduction
Research on the digitalization of ancient books in Taiwan used to focus on digital processing technology or the process of establishing database, but lack comprehensive discussion of system
DOI: 10.6245/JLIS.202004_46(1).0003
functions of database concerned by users. For this reason, this study aims to discuss the current situations of the system functions of ancient book database, present the characteristics of the system functions of ancient book database in Taiwan, and further understand humanists’ use experience in ancient book database and the importance cognition of system functions, through questionnaire survey.
Research Methods 1. System function analysis
The most representative ancient book database systems of National Central Library, Academia Sinica, and National Palace Museum in the collection of ancient books in Taiwan are selected as the objects.
The following 9 famous ancient book database systems (Table 1) are compared and analyzed, and the parallel analysis of system functions is preceded through actual operation.
Table 1 Ancient book database systems established by public institutions in Taiwan collection
institution database URL system
code National
Central Library
Universal Type Digital Humanities Research Platform on Chinese Ancient Books
http://ming.ncl.edu.tw/ D01
Contents of the Combined Collections of Ming Authors
https://goo.gl/M8XAbW D02
Rare Books & Special Collections Integrated Search http://rbook2.ncl.edu.tw/Search/Index/0 D03 Rare Books & Special Collections Union Catalog http://rbook2.ncl.edu.tw/Search/Index/2 D04 Rare Books & Special Collections Digital Images http://rbook2.ncl.edu.tw/Search/Index/1 D05 Academia
Sinica
Chinese Electronic Document/Wen Xin Diao Lung http://hanchi.ihp.sinica.edu.tw/ D06 Scripta Sinica http://hanchi.ihp.sinica.edu.tw/ D07 Database of Rare Books http://ihparchive.ihp.sinica.edu.tw/ihpkmc/
ihpkm?
D08
National Palace Museum
Database of Rare Books http://npmhost.npm.gov.tw/tts/npmmeta/RB/
RB.html
D09
2. Questionnaire survey
The questionnaire design of “ancient book database system needs and functions survey” is edited by referring to the questions for database user needs and system function designed by Lin (2013) and Zhang (2011). Semi-open end questions are adopted, and Likert 5-point scale is utilized for the perceived importance. Ones with literature and history background and experience in the use of network resources are selected as the objects. Removing incomplete copies, total 151 copies are valid.
Results and Discussion 1. System function analysis of ancient book database
9 system interface functions of ancient book database, including browse, search, content analysis, user interaction and participation, query result display, and auxiliary tool, are inspected the completeness of functions. The established database functions are organized as below (Table 2).
Table 2 Function analysis and comparison of ancient book database
function item ancient book database system code
D01 D02 D03 D04 D05 D06 D07 D08 D09
browse different field browse V V V V V
browse result re-search V V
search different search point V V V V V V V
full-text search V V V V V V V V
vocabulary prompt
field selection V V V V V V V
cross-database search V content analysis word frequency analysis V
network relationship V word cloud
geographic information system
subject knowledge map user interaction and
participation
really simple syndication (RSS)
community sharing V
personalized service V
tag V V V V
query result display Search result sequence V V V
post classification V V V V V
direct image presentation V V V V
image and text presentation
V
bibliography export V V V V V V V V
auxiliary tool reference V V V
digital reference database V V
linked data
More than a half database presents the functions of search, browse, and query result display.
However, there is not a database system offering the content analysis function for research on digital humanities, such as word cloud, geographic information system, and subject knowledge map, or the auxiliary tool, linked data. Apparently, the actual establishment of database functions is still short in spite of the heated discussions of the functions of content analysis and user interaction & participation.
2. User opinions survey result
(1) Commonly used ancient book database
The commonly used ancient book database contains Rare Books & Special Collections (42%), Digital Images (42%), and Union Catalog (38%) established by National Central Library. Chinese Electronic Document (77%) is mostly used for ancient book database established by Academia Sinica, and then Scripta Sinica (65%). The use of Database of Rare Books established by National Palace Museum is relatively less (29%).
(2) Used database functions
The frequently used database function is search (97%), with the sequence of browse (73%) and query result display (62%). The use of content analysis, auxiliary tool, and user interaction and participation is comparatively low.
(3) Users’ importance cognition of database functions
Users show higher importance cognition of ancient book database on the basic functions of “browse”,
“search”, and “query result display”, but low importance cognition on “content analysis” and “auxiliary tool”, which could assist in the research on digital humanities.
(4) Difference of users with distinct background in importance cognition of database functions
One way analysis of variance (one way ANOVA) is utilized for testing the significant difference of different background variables of subject background, occupation, network use frequency, and ancient book database use frequency in the importance cognition of database functions. Merely time for using ancient book database appears remarkable difference in the cognition of database functions (p<0.05), revealing that time for using ancient book database would affect the importance cognition of database functions.
Conclusions and Recommendations
1. Ancient book database systems mostly satisfy the functions of search, browse, and query result display. Such basic functions have been established for long period. Nevertheless, the developed tools for the research on digital humanities to cope with the advance of information technology, e.g., content analysis and auxiliary tools, are comparatively short, especially in early developed system functions.
2. The research results reveal that users often use the database functions of “search,” “browse,”
and “query result display,” but seldom use “content analysis,” “auxiliary tool,” and “user
interaction and participation.” Users show higher agreement with basic functions of ancient book database, but low importance cognition of “content analysis” and “auxiliary tool” which are offered for research on digital humanities. It reveals that users are not familiar with the analysis tool for research on digital humanities.
3. Among all ancient book database functions, the function mean of “user interaction and participation” is low, showing that literature and history users tend to independent research in the research process and do not need to share content annotation. In the functions of content analysis and auxiliary tool, “geographic information system,” “personalized service,” and
“reference” are better affirmed by users, as they could assist in personal research.
4. The items which users appear lower importance cognition of database functions also show higher standard deviation, revealing distinct user opinions about importance. Users with different background do not appear large difference in the importance cognition; merely time for using database achieves notable differences in the importance cognition.
【Romanization of references is offered in the paper.】