A system for constructing private digital libraries through information space exploration

Abstract

Digital libraries on the Internet are constructed separately and managed autonomously, and their semantics are different from each other. On the other hand, users of digital libraries have their own information needs. In order for users to fully utilize digital libraries, therefore, a new method for promoting mediation between the semantics of digital libraries and users’ information needs is vital. COSPEX (COnceptual SPace EXplorer), proposed in this paper, is a system that can enhance such mediation. Through the exploration of information spaces encompassing multiple digital libraries, users of COSPEX can construct their own private digital libraries.