At the risk of offending the author, I am placing this message here in hope of eventually linking this information to the author's page.  Neat research. -Paul

Date: Mon, 22 Sep 1997 14:25:19 -0800
From: Michelle Kaufman <MKaufman@GETTY.EDU>
Subject: Use of Vocabularies on the Web

Note: The following message is being posted to ARLIS-L,
ARCHIVES-L, and AAT-L. Please cc Elisa Lanzi
(elanzi@together.net) in your response; she is not
subscribed to this list.

WANTED: EXAMPLES OF VOCABULARY USE ON THE WEB

I am building an educational website called "Introduction to
Vocabularies: A Guide to Enhancing Access to Cultural
Heritage Information." The site is being designed as an online
workshop and its purpose is to demonstrate the benefits of using controlled
vocabularies in both documentation/cataloging contexts and search
engine interfaces.

I am working on this project as a consultant for the Getty
Information Institute's Vocabulary Program.

One of the most convincing ways to demonstrate these points is to show "Examples of Good Practice." I have designed a section called "Improving Access: Theory into Practice," which is a compendium of links to other websites. I have a number of examples but I know
there's more out there. I would appreciate any suggestions for the following types
of sites: (NOTE: please reply directly to me, not this list)

1. Does the site show cataloging records for museum objects, archival
materials, library materials, or visual resources? If so, does the site
show terms used from controlled vocabularies, especially AAT, ULAN,
combinations of AAT and LSCH, ICONCLASS, etc.? For example:
http://scriptorium.lib.duke.edu/papyrus

2. Does the site use a controlled vocabulary to assist searchers with a query? This could be as simple as providing a list of terms on the search page OR using the vocabulary behind the scenes in
the search interface. For example: http://www.ahip.getty.edu

3. Does the site mention the use of a vocabulary and send you off the web (e.g. telnet) to see actual records? That's fine, I'd still like to know about it. For example: http://www.nal.vam.ac.uk/nalaat.html

4. Is the site a Vocabulary Browser? For example: http://www.gii.getty.edu/ulan_browser

5. Does the site show use of multilingual vocabularies? For example: http://www.chin.gc.ca/National/HSNI/e_sample.html

6. Does the site show how controlled vocabularies are available and used in a vendor system? For example, a collection management system, library OPAC, etc.?

7. Does the site show use of controlled vocabularies in an image database?
For example: http://www.lib.virginia.edu/speccol/hsc/database.html

Well, you get the picture -- I'm interested in just about any use of controlled vocabularies on the Web. The results of this query will be included in the "Introduction to Vocabularies..." website,
available later this year. Many thanks for your help.

Elisa Lanzi
elanzi@together.net