Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE LIA5039

 
TITLE Library Systems and the Web

 
UM LEVEL 05 - Postgraduate Modular Diploma or Degree Course

 
MQF LEVEL 7

 
ECTS CREDITS 5

 
DEPARTMENT Library Information and Archive Sciences

 
DESCRIPTION This study-unit examines how library systems evolved and are now accessible through the Web. It provides students with the theoretical and practical knowledge of web technologies to understand the process involved in creating, organising, searching, presenting and using information in library systems accessible through the Web.

The topics which will be covered include:

1. Evolution and Impact of Digital Libraries
2. Internet, the World Wide Web and Web 2.0
3. Web Design and Architecture
4. Information Storage and Database Systems
5. Information Retrieval and Search Engines
6. Metadata, Semantic Web and Semantic Digital Libraries
7. Linked Data, Open Data and Big Data
8. Digital Curation
9. Privacy and Security for Digital Libraries.

Study-unit Aims:

This study -unit aims to provide students with a sound knowledge and understanding of fundamental topics on current Web technologies for library systems. In particular, it aims to provide students with the knowledge on how information is represented, organised, searched and retrieved from library systems on the Web.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Knowledge & Understanding
By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

1. Explain how library systems have evolved into digital libraries;
2. Demonstrate a fundamental knowledge associated with using the Internet and the Web for library systems;
3. Explain Web 2.0 technologies and how they can be used in conjunction with library systems;
4. Interpret the concepts associated with information storage and database systems;
5. Explain how search engines work and the theory and principles of information retrieval;
6. Explain Web 3.0 technologies, namely semantic Web, linked data and open data for semantic digital libraries;
7. Demonstrate a deeper understanding on data curation;
8. Explore privacy and security fundamental concepts for digital libraries.

2. Skills
By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

1. Define the components and architecture of digital libraries;
2. Describe how the Internet and Web work;
3. Distinguish and describe different Web 2.0 technologies;
4. Apply theoretical knowledge for designing Web interfaces for online library systems;
5. Describe how information is stored within database systems for digital libraries;
6. Apply theoretical knowledge for searching and retrieving information through search engines;
7. Distinguish and describe different Web 3.0 technologies;
8. Distinguish and define linked data, open data and Big Data;
9. Describe the process of data curation;
10. Define privacy and security challenges in digital libraries.

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings:

Main Texts:

- Joseph B. Miller. Internet Technologies and Information Services (Library and Information Science Text). 2nd Edition. Libraries Unlimited. ISBN: 9781610694735. 2014.
- Richard E. Rubin and Rachel G. Rubin. Foundations of Library and Information Science. 5th Edition. Facet Publishing. ISBN: 9781783304776. 2020.
- Grigoris Antoniou, Paul Groth, Frank van Harmelen and Rinke Hoekstra. A Semantic Web Primer (Information Systems). 3rd Edition. The MIT Press. ISBN: 0262018284. 2012.
- Sebastian Ryszard Kruk and Bill McDaniel. Semantic Digital Libraries. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. ISBN: 3540854339. 2008

Supplementary Texts:

- Iris Xie and Krystyna Matusiak. Discover Digital Libraries: Theory and Practice. 1st Edition. Elsevier. ISBN: 0124171125. 2016.
- Karen Calhoun. Exploring Digital Libraries: Foundations, Practice, Prospects. Neal-Schuman Publishers. ISBN: 1555709850. 2014
- Louis Rosenfeld, Peter Morville and Jorge Arango. Information Architecture: For the Web and Beyond. 4th Edition. O'Reilly Media. ISBN: 1491911689. 2015.
- Gillian Oliver and Ross Harvey. Digital Curation. ALA Neal-Schuman. 2nd Edition. ISBN: 9780838913857. 2016.

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Lecture

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Assessment Due Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Project SEM2 Yes 25%
Report SEM2 Yes 25%
Assignment SEM2 Yes 50%

 
LECTURER/S Owen Sacco
Valeria Vanesio

 

 
The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints.
Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice.
It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2024/5. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

https://www.um.edu.mt/course/studyunit