Applications of Thesaurus in Digital Libraries

Sanjeev K Sunny; Mallikarjun Angadi

doi:10.14429/djlit.37.5.11169

Sanjeev K Sunny Centre for Library and Information Management Studies, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai - 400088 http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5259-3264
Mallikarjun Angadi Centre for Library and Information Management Studies, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai - 400088

DOI: https://doi.org/10.14429/djlit.37.5.11169

Keywords: Thesaurus, Digital library, Digital information systems, Information retrieval, Knowledge organization systems, Systematic literature review

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to report the findings of a systematic literature review carried out to investigate the applications and potential roles of thesaurus in digital libraries. It also describes the process of systematic literature review (SLR) followed to carry out this study. 321 unique publications from Library and Information Science Abstracts (LISA) and Scopus had been subjected to SLR, and 29 papers have been analysed. Various possible applications of thesaurus in digital libraries have been identified and described. Also different approaches followed by researchers in choice of the thesaurus have been identified. Search and browse functionalities offered by thesaurus to the users of digital libraries are described. The discussion presented in this paper can play as cues for the digital library administrators in decision making towards implementing thesaurus for enhanced information retrieval. This study would allow researchers of information retrieval systems, including that of digital libraries, to proceed from more informed standpoints. Also, the discussion can be used to evaluate and improve education in library and information science.

Author Biographies

Sanjeev K Sunny, Centre for Library and Information Management Studies, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai - 400088

Mr Sanjeev K. Sunny, completed his post-graduation in Documentation and Information Science from DRTC, ISI Benglore, in 2008 and is pursuing PhD in LIS from TISS, Mumbai. Presently, he is working as Deputy Librarian at IIT Roorkee. His areas of specialisations are library automation, digital library services and information retrieval, web portals and e-resource management, user education programmes, and applications of knowledge organisation systems.

In the current study, the systematic review of literature has been carried out by him.

Mallikarjun Angadi, Centre for Library and Information Management Studies, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai - 400088

Dr Mallikarjun Angadi obtained MLISc and PhD in library science from Gulbarga University, Gulbarga, Karnataka. Currently he is working at Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai. He has published 48 research papers in the national & international conferences/seminars and national & international journals. He also has 4 edited books to his credit. His area of specialisation includes : Library automation and networking, ICT applications in libraries, digital library applications, library websites and portals, scientometric studies.

In the current study, the systematic review of literature has been carried out under his supervision.