Analysis and correspondence between the entities of Europeana Data Model, IFLA LRM and BIBFRAME conceptual models

Abstract

Objective: To propose the harmonization between the EDM, BIBFRAME, and IFLA LRM models with the purpose of analyzing the equivalence of entities to enable the interoperability between systems that use these conceptual models as a basis. Method: This research is characterized as exploratory and descriptive with a qualitative approach, in which a bibliographic survey was used to identify the studies already carried out on the topic. In addition, the analysis of entities was based on the methodology substantiated by Pierre et al. (1999), Taniguchi (2018), Arakaki (2019), and Carrasco (2019). Results: From the analysis of the models, six ontological categories of entities were identified: (i) Intellectual Content, (ii) Subject, (iii) Concrete Unit, (iv) Agent, (v) Space-time, and (vi) Reification. Consistent equivalences were observed between the entities, their functionalities, and terminology in most categories, except for the entities of the Intellectual Content category and the structuring of the Concrete Unit category. Conclusions: It was concluded that the most notable difference between the models was expressed in the Intellectual Content category, and that, because they are based on the cataloging tradition, the IFLA LRM and BIBFRAME models have functionally equivalent entities, while the EDM model, focused on the cultural heritage object itself, does not have any entity that may be mapped in this category. Likewise, a structural difference was found in the Concrete Unit category, in which the EDM model makes a distinction between the object itself and its digital representation, whereas such a distinction occurs in the Intellectual Content category for the IFLA LRM and BIBFRAME models.