Introduction to options and methods for creating information systems that provide access to the content of a collection of resources, whether print or electronic, linguistic, audio, visual, graphical, or commercial. Comparison of different kinds of classification schemes such as library subject headings, folksonomies, taxonomies, and ontologies. Techniques for vocabulary control and for assessment of information system quality with respect to usability and maintainability. Application of basic design principles to information systems. Introduction to fundamentals of resource description using XML and RDF metamodels and the simple Dublin Core metadata schema.

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Accurately describe real-world organizing systems with regard to key characteristics such as subject scope, collection scope and domain, classification scheme, techniques for vocabulary control (or lack thereof), exhaustivity and specificity, creation and user interface design.

• Compare and evaluate organizing systems based on usability and maintainability.

• Create basic resource descriptions using XML, RDF, and simple Dublin Core.

• Design from scratch an information system to provide user access to a collection of resources of the student’s choice.