CERIF compatible data model based on MARC 21 format

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to observe all data from the Common European Research Information Format (CERIF) data model that can be described using bibliographic standards and move those data to a data model of bibliographic standard.

Design/methodology/approach

Analysis of the CERIF data model and the MARC 21 format has shown that some elements of the CERIF data model could be mapped to the MARC 21 bibliographic record. A CERIF compatible data model based on the MARC 21 format is proposed. The data model was created using PowerDesigner CASE tool. The proposed data model is represented using a physical data model in the conceptual notation that is adopted in the literature for representing the CERIF data model.

Findings

A CERIF compatible data model based on the MARC 21 format is proposed. The proposed model contains all the data from the CERIF2008 data model. The central part of the proposed model is MARC 21 data model that is used as a replacement for 27 entities of the CERIF data model, including all their attributes as well as part of the attributes in entities related to organisational unit. The mappings between attributes of entities of the CERIF data model and the data model of the MARC 21 format are described.

Research limitations/implications

The CERIF compatible data model based on the MARC 21 format does not support all restrictions on data types, which are defined by the CERIF data model. This means that such restrictions have to be controlled by software.

Practical implications

The central part of the proposed CERIF compatible data model is a data model of MARC 21 format. It means that most of the data are modelled according to bibliographic standard, which is very widespread worldwide. This implies that the proposed CERIF model can be easily implemented within the existing library infrastructure. In addition, the proposed model can be used for other purposes, such as the evaluation of scientific research results, generating bibliographies of researchers, and institutions, the citations etc. A research management system based on the proposed model is implemented. Also, this system is verified and tested on data about published results of researchers employed at University of Novi Sad, Serbia.

Originality/value

A new data model compatible with the CERIF data model is proposed. The basic idea is to map part of the CERIF data model related to published results of scientific research to some well‐known bibliographic standard. It was shown that this part of the data model could be mapped to the MARC 21 data model. It can be mapped to data models of any other MARC standards in a similar way.

Citation

Ivanović, D., Surla, D. and Konjović, Z. (2011), "CERIF compatible data model based on MARC 21 format", The Electronic Library, Vol. 29 No. 1, pp. 52-70. https://doi.org/10.1108/02640471111111433