Interoperability models in digital libraries: an overview

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the existing interoperability models in digital libraries and to introduce related projects in each model.

Design/methodology/approach

The study starts from searching various databases with a combination of important keywords in the field, such as interoperability, digital library, meta‐searching and cross‐searching. The study follows up with describing related digital library projects in the field of technical interoperability. The projects are described under three main categories, Federated, Harvesting and Gathering.

Findings

The study shows that most of the studied projects are located in the USA and also most of the digital library projects use OAI protocol and the harvesting model in order to be technically interoperable. Also, the results of the study showed that the projects mostly paid attention to metadata interoperability and only a few mentioned full‐text interoperability issues.

Originality/value

The paper makes an original contribution of exploring an area (interoperability models in digital libraries), that is at the forefront of discussion in libraries worldwide.

Citation

Alipour‐Hafezi, M., Horri, A., Shiri, A. and Ghaebi, A. (2010), "Interoperability models in digital libraries: an overview", The Electronic Library, Vol. 28 No. 3, pp. 438-452. https://doi.org/10.1108/02640471011052016