IDL framework to integrate disparate digital library systems: a case study

Abstract

Purpose – The main purpose of this article is to provide a focal framework with the aim of making integrated digital libraries in technical and content level of syntactic interoperability between digital libraries. Design/methodology/approach – Literature review, library research method and analytical approach were used in the first step of this research in order to design IDL framework. Then a survey of 11 Iranian digital library applications was conducted for testing the proposed framework. Finally, based on the findings, conceptual integration architecture was proposed based on the framework. Findings – Based on the literature a framework for integration of digital library applications in syntax level is proposed which includes four core layers: models, protocols, metadata formats, and context-based layer. Based on the findings of the survey, integration architecture is proposed which includes all the mentioned layers in the IDL framework. So as to decrease cost of installing the architecture, cloud base technology architecture introduced to be used inverse. Originality/value – A gap exists between research and practice in the field of integrated digital libraries. In fact this article is an attempt to cover this gap by proposing a framework that can be implemented.