Table of Contents

1 Introduction

The Library Service Ontology is an Ontology to define a classification of conventional services provided by libraries. The Ontology is related to the GoodRelations Ontology, to the Service Ontology, to the Document Service ontology and to the vCard Ontology. The current version of this ontology is a preliminary draft as part of a Bachelor Thesis. This is Version 0.1.1, last modified at 2014-02-12.

2 Namespaces and Ontology

The URI namespace of the Library Service Ontology is http://purl.org/ontology/libso#. The namespace prefix lso is recommended. The URI of this ontology as a whole is http://purl.org/ontology/libso.

The following namespace prefixes are used to refer to related ontologies:

@prefix dct: <http://purl.org/dc/terms/> .
@prefix dso: <http://purl.org/ontology/dso#> .
@prefix foaf: <http://xmlns.com/foaf/0.1/> .
@prefix geo: <http://www.w3.org/2003/01/geo/wgs84_pos#> .
@prefix gr: <http://purl.org/goodrelations/v1#> .
@prefix lso: <http://purl.org/ontology/libso#> .
@prefix org: <http://www.w3.org/ns/org#> .
@prefix owl: <http://www.w3.org/2002/07/owl#> .
@prefix rdf: <http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#> .
@prefix rdfs: <http://www.w3.org/2000/01/rdf-schema#> .
@prefix schema: <http://schema.org/> .
@prefix service: <http://purl.org/ontology/service#> .
@prefix vann: <http://purl.org/vocab/vann/> .
@prefix vcard: <http://www.w3.org/2006/vcard/ns#> .
@prefix voaf: <http://purl.org/vocommons/voaf#> .
@prefix xsd: <http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#> .

The Library Service Ontology is defined in RDF/Turtle as following:

<http://purl.org/ontology/libso> a voaf:Vocabulary, owl:Ontology ;
    dct:creator "Matthias Letsch" ;
    dct:description "An Ontology to define a classification of conventional services provided by libraries." ;
    dct:modified "2014-02-12"^^xsd:date ;
    dct:title "Library Service Ontology"@en ;
    vann:preferredNamespacePrefix "lso" ;
    vann:preferredNamespaceUri "http://purl.org/ontology/libso#" ;
    owl:versionInfo "0.1.1" .

3 Overview

The ontology defines the core class LibraryService representing the set of possible services provided by libraries. To connect the LSO to existing Vocabularies, LibraryService is a subclass of Service as defined in the Service Ontology. The possible services are divided into local Services (Class Local) and web based Services (Class WebBased) due to describe their specific access options. To link the services to providing libraries, the Class [ServiceProvider] and the inverse properties provides and providedBy as defined in the Service Ontology are used. These properties are automatically inherited in any subclass of Service. The Library Service Ontology also provides terms for describing contact options to the staff, opening times and price specifications by resorting to selected properties and classes from the vCard Ontology and the GoodRelations Ontology.

4 Original Concepts

4.1 Classes

A library service is a kind of service provided by a library or a related Institution. The core class is lso:LibraryService. Each instance of lso:LibraryService is also an instance of service:Service, gr:ProductOrService or dctype:Service. For some possible connections to a Service also see the Service Ontology. Each Service can be connected to a staff contact option via vCard Ontology terms. Each local Service can be connected to an opening time specification via GoodRelations Ontology terms. Each web based Service must have an URI for the access. Some services can have price specifications via GoodRelations Ontology terms or other terms of use via lso:Condition. Some of the classes are re-used classes from the Document Service Ontology in order to define the services without generating redundant vocabulary.

lso:LibraryService a rdfs:Class ;
    rdfs:label "Bibliotheksdienstleistung"@de, "Library Service"@en ;
    rdfs:comment "A kind of service provided by a library or a related Institution." ;
    rdfs:isDefinedBy <http://purl.org/ontology/libso> ;
    rdfs:subClassOf service:Service .

Components of Services: A subservice is a single component of a higher-level service.

lso:SubService a rdfs:Class ;
    rdfs:label "Dienstleistungsbestandteil"@de, "Service Component"@en ;
    rdfs:comment "Defines a single component of a higher-level service" ;
    rdfs:isDefinedBy <http://purl.org/ontology/libso> ;
    rdfs:subClassOf lso:LibraryService .

Local Services: A local service is a kind of service that is offered on site at the library. Local services can have an opening hour specification and several contact options to the staff. Some of them, e.g. interlibrary loans, also can have price specifications.

lso:Local a rdfs:Class ;
    rdfs:label "Lokale Dienstleistung"@de, "Local Service"@en ;
    rdfs:comment "A kind of service that is offered on site at the library." ;
    rdfs:isDefinedBy <http://purl.org/ontology/libso> ;
    rdfs:subClassOf lso:LibraryService .

Local Services for providing collection usage: A local usage service is a kind of service provided to take use of the library’s media collection.

lso:LocalUsage a rdfs:Class ;
    rdfs:label "Lokale Bestandsbenutzung"@de, "Local Usage Service"@en ;
    rdfs:comment "A kind of service provided to take use of the library’s media collection." ;
    rdfs:isDefinedBy <http://purl.org/ontology/libso> ;
    rdfs:subClassOf lso:Local ;
    owl:sameAs dso:documentService .

Loan: A loan is a typical library loan service. The class dso:loan is part of the Document Service Ontology.

dso:loan a rdfs:Class ;
    rdfs:label "Fernleihe"@de, "Interloan"@en ;
    rdfs:isDefinedBy <http://purl.org/ontology/dso> ;
    rdfs:subClassOf dso:DocumentService, lso:LocalUsage .

Interlibrary Loan: An interlibrary loan is a typical library service to provide access to physical documents from other libraries. The class dso:interloan is part of the Document Service ontology.

dso:InterLoan a rdfs:Class ;
    rdfs:label "Fernleihe"@de, "Interloan"@en ;
    rdfs:isDefinedBy <http://purl.org/ontology/dso> ;
    rdfs:subClassOf dso:DocumentService,
    lso:LocalUsage .

Research Station: A research station is a PC-Station provided for research within the library’s media collection.

lso:ResearchStation a rdfs:Class ;
    rdfs:label "Rechercheplatz"@de, "Research Station"@en ;
    rdfs:comment "A PC-Station provided for research within the library’s media collection." ;
    rdfs:isDefinedBy <http://purl.org/ontology/libso> ;
    rdfs:subClassOf lso:LocalUsage .

Presentation: A Presentation is a service to provide space to use the media collection on site at the library, e.g. in a reading room.

dso:Presentation a rdfs:Class ;
    rdfs:label "Präsenzansicht"@de, "Presentation"@en ;
    rdfs:comment "A service to provide space to use the media collection on site at the library, e.g. in a reading room." ;
    rdfs:isDefinedBy <http://purl.org/ontology/dso> ;
    rdfs:subClassOf dso:documentService, lso:LocalUSage .

Local Services for Information Transfer: A local information service is a kind of ser- vice provided to inform the library users on site in the library.

lso:LocalInformation a rdfs:Class ;
    rdfs:label "Lokale Informationsvermittlung"@de, "Local Information Service"@en ;
    rdfs:comment "A kind of service provided to inform the library users on site in the library." ;
    rdfs:isDefinedBy <http://purl.org/ontology/libso> ;
    rdfs:subClassOf lso:Local .

Information Counter: An information Counter service is a service provided to inform the library users at a service counter.

lso:InformationCounter a rdfs:Class ;
    rdfs:label "Informationstheke"@de, "Information Counter"@en ;
    rdfs:comment "A service provided to inform the library users at a service counter." ;
    rdfs:isDefinedBy <http://purl.org/ontology/libso> ;
    rdfs:subClassOf lso:LocalInformation .

Library Tour: A library tour is a service provided to guide the users through the library building and to show them the potential uses.

lso:LibraryTour a rdfs:Class ;
    rdfs:label "Bibliotheksführung"@de, "Library Tour"@en ;
    rdfs:comment "A service provided to guide the users through the library building and to show them the potential uses." ;
    rdfs:isDefinedBy <http://purl.org/ontology/libso> ;
    rdfs:subClassOf lso:LocalInformation .

User Training: User training is a service provided to train the users in research and use of the library’s media collection.

lso:UserTraining a rdfs:Class ;
    rdfs:label "Nutzerschulung"@de, "User Training"@en ;
    rdfs:comment "A service provided to train the users in research and use of the library’s media collection." ;
    rdfs:isDefinedBy <http://purl.org/ontology/libso> ;
    rdfs:subClassOf lso:LocalInformation .

Registration: A registration is an action to register a person as a library user and inform it about usage opportunities and conditions.

lso:Registration a rdfs:Class ;
    rdfs:label "Nutzeranmeldung"@de, "User Registration"@en ;
    rdfs:comment "An action to register a person as a library user and inform it about usage opportunities and conditions." ;
    rdfs:isDefinedBy <http://purl.org/ontology/libso> ;
    rdfs:subClassOf lso:LocalInformation .

Local Services for providing work space and aids: A local work service is a service for providing working space and opportunities to the users.

lso:LocalWork a rdfs:Class ;
    rdfs:label "Lokales Arbeiten"@de, "Local Work"@en ;
    rdfs:comment "A service for providing working space and opportunities to the users." ;
    rdfs:isDefinedBy <http://purl.org/ontology/libso> ;
    rdfs:subClassOf lso:Local .

Copier Or Scanner: A copier or a scanner is a service provided to enable users making personal copies or scans of documents.

lso:CopierOrScanner a rdfs:Class ;
    rdfs:label "Kopierer oder Scanner"@de, "Copier or Scanner"@en ;
    rdfs:comment "A service provided to enable users making personal copies or scans of documents." ;
    rdfs:isDefinedBy <http://purl.org/ontology/libso> ;
    rdfs:subClassOf lso:LocalWork .

Black and white Copier

lso:CopierBlack a rdfs:Class ;
    rdfs:label "Schwarz-Weiß-Kopierer"@de, "Black and White Copier"@en ;
    rdfs:isDefinedBy <http://purl.org/ontology/libso> ;
    rdfs:subClassOf lso:CopierOrScanner .

Color Copier

lso:CopierColor a rdfs:Class ;
    rdfs:label "Farbkopierer"@de, "Color Copier"@en ;
    rdfs:isDefinedBy <http://purl.org/ontology/libso> ;
    rdfs:subClassOf lso:CopierOrScanner .

Scanner Only (Digitization)

dso:Digitization a rdfs:Class ;
    rdfs:label "Scanner"@en ;
    rdfs:isDefinedBy <http://purl.org/ontology/dso> ;
    rdfs:subClassOf lso:CopierOrScanner .

Working Space for Groups: A group work space is a service to provide working space for groups of users.

lso:GroupWorkSpace a rdfs:Class ;
    rdfs:label "Gruppenarbeitsraum"@de, "Group Work Room"@en ;
    rdfs:comment "A service to provide working space for groups of users." ;
    rdfs:isDefinedBy <http://purl.org/ontology/libso> ;
    rdfs:subClassOf lso:LocalWork .

Individual Work Space: An individual work space is a service to provide the opportunity for individual work for a single user.

lso:IndividualWorkSpace a rdfs:Class ;
    rdfs:label "Einzelarbeitsplatz"@de, "Individual Work Space"@en ;
    rdfs:comment "A service to provide the opportunity for individual work for a single user." ;
    rdfs:isDefinedBy <http://purl.org/ontology/libso> ;
    rdfs:subClassOf lso:LocalWork .

PC Work Station: A PC work station is a service to provide the opportunity to do work on a PC.

lso:PCWorkStation a rdfs:Class ;
    rdfs:label "PC-Arbeitsplatz"@de, "PC Work Station"@en ;
    rdfs:comment "A service to provide the opportunity to do work on a PC." ;
    rdfs:isDefinedBy <http://purl.org/ontology/libso> ;
    rdfs:subClassOf lso:LocalWork .

Photo Service: A photo service is a service provided to generate photographs for the users.

lso:PhotoService a rdfs:Class ;
    rdfs:label "Fotodienst"@de, "Photo Service"@en ;
    rdfs:comment "a service provided to generate photographs for the users." ;
    rdfs:isDefinedBy <http://purl.org/ontology/libso> ;
    rdfs:subClassOf lso:LocalWork .

Web Based Services: A web based service is a kind of online service provided on the library’s website.

lso:WebBased a rdfs:Class ;
    rdfs:label "Internetbasierte Dienstleistung"@de, "Web Based Service"@en ;
    rdfs:comment "A kind of online service provided on the library’s website."
    ;
    rdfs:isDefinedBy <http://purl.org/ontology/libso> ;
    rdfs:subClassOf lso:LibraryService .

Web Based Services for Providing Collection Usage: A web based usage service is a kind of online service provided to gain access to parts of the media collection on the web.

lso:WebBasedUsage a rdfs:Class ;
    rdfs:label "Internetbasierte Bestandsbenutzung"@de,
        "Web Based Usage Service"@en ;
    rdfs:comment "A kind of online service provided to gain access to parts of the media collection on the web." ;
    rdfs:isDefinedBy <http://purl.org/ontology/libso> ;
    rdfs:subClassOf lso:WebBased .

Catalogue

lso:Catalogue a rdfs:Class ;
    rdfs:label "Katalog"@de, "Catalogue"@en ;
    rdfs:isDefinedBy <http://purl.org/ontology/libso> ;
    rdfs:subClassOf lso:WebBasedUsage .

Database

lso:Database a rdfs:Class ;
    rdfs:label "Datenbank"@de, "Database"@en ;
    rdfs:isDefinedBy <http://purl.org/ontology/libso> ;
    rdfs:subClassOf lso:WebBasedUsage .

Open Access: The Open Access service class is part of the Document Service Ontology. It implies to free accessibility of a document without any restrictions by the service provider.

dso:OpenAccess a rdfs:Class ;
    rdfs:label "Open Access"@en ;
    rdfs:isDefinedBy <http://purl.org/ontology/dso> ;
    rdfs:subClassOf dso:DocumentService,
    lso:WebBasedUsage .

Recommendation: A recommendation service provides the ability for the user to issue a purchase recommendation.

lso:Recommendation a rdfs:Class ;
    rdfs:label "Anschaffungsempfehlung"@en, "Purchase Recommendation"@en ;
    rdfs:isDefinedBy <http://purl.org/ontology/libso> ;
    rdfs:subClassOf lso:WebBasedUsage .

Web Based Services for Information Transfer: A web based information service is a kind of online service provided to inform the users on the web via chat, email or online tutorials.

lso:WebBasedInformation a rdfs:Class ;
    rdfs:label "Internetbasierter Auskunftsdienst"@de,
        "Web Based Information Service"@en ;
    rdfs:comment "a kind of online service provided to inform the users on the web." ;
    rdfs:isDefinedBy <http://purl.org/ontology/libso> ;
    rdfs:subClassOf lso:WebBased .

Online Information

lso:OnlineInformation a rdfs:Class ;
    rdfs:label "Internetbasierter Auskunftsdienst"@de, "Online Information"@en ;
    rdfs:comment "a kind of online service provided to inform the users on the web via chat or email etc." ;
    rdfs:isDefinedBy <http://purl.org/ontology/libso> ;
    rdfs:subClassOf lso:WebBasedInformation .

4.2 Adjusted classes from related ontologies

The Library Service classes can be linked to other kinds of classes to express certain relations. Where possible, use is made of existing ontologies in order to make certain statements without generating redundant vocabulary.

Condition: The Condition class defines terms of use for a service, e.g. price specifications or periods. This equals to service:ServiceLimitation.

lso:Condition a rdfs:Class ;
    rdfs:label "Nutzungskondition"@de, "Condition"@en ;
    rdfs:comment "Defines the terms of use for a service." ;
    rdfs:isDefinedBy <http://purl.org/ontology/libso> ;
    owl:sameAs service:ServiceLimitation .

Point Of Service: The Point of Service class defines a physical site where a local service is available.

lso:PointOfService a rdfs:Class ;
    rdfs:label "Servicepunkt"@de, "Point of Service"@en ;
    rdfs:comment "defines a physical site where a local service is available." ;
    rdfs:isDefinedBy <http://purl.org/ontology/libso> ;
    rdfs:subClassOf org:OrganizationalUnit .

Point Of Service: Organizational Unit: The POS Unit Class defines an organizational unit as a point of service.

lso:POSUnit a rdfs:Class ;
    rdfs:label "Teilorganisation als Servicepunkt"@de,
        "Organizational Unit as Point Of Service"@en ;
    rdfs:comment "defines an organizational unit as a physical site where a local service is available." ;
    rdfs:isDefinedBy <http://purl.org/ontology/libso> ;
    rdfs:subClassOf lso:PointOfService,
    org:OrganizationalUnit .

Point Of Service: Building: The POS Building Class defines a building as a point of service.

lso:POSBuilding a rdfs:Class ;
    rdfs:label "Gebäude als Servicepunkt"@de, "Building as Point Of Service"@en ;
    rdfs:comment "defines a building as a physical site where a local service is available." ;
    rdfs:isDefinedBy <http://purl.org/ontology/libso> ;
    rdfs:subClassOf lso:PointOfService,
    org:OrganizationalUnit .

Point Of Service: Department: The POS Department Class defines a department within an organizational unit or a building as a point of service.

lso:POSDepartment a rdfs:Class ;
    rdfs:label "Abteilung als Servicepunkt"@de, "Department as Point Of Service"@en ;
    rdfs:comment "defines a department as a physical site where a local service is available." ;
    rdfs:isDefinedBy <http://purl.org/ontology/libso> ;
    rdfs:subClassOf lso:PointOfService,
    org:OrganizationalUnit .

Licence: The Licence class defines conditions for access to databases given by licenses through predefined Instances.

lso:Licence a rdfs:Class ;
    rdfs:label "Lizenz"@de, "Licence"@en ;
    rdfs:comment "class defines conditions for access to databases given by licenses." ;
    rdfs:isDefinedBy <http://purl.org/ontology/libso> ;
    rdfs:subClassOf lso:Condition .

Predefined Instances:

Licence: Free access

    lso:Free a lso:Licence ;
    rdfs:Label "Frei im Web verfügbar"@de, "Free Online Access"@en ;
    rdfs:isDefinedBy <http://purl.org/ontology/libso> .

Licence: External Access for registered Users

lso:ExternalAccess a lso:Licence ;
    rdfs:Label "Externer Zugang für angemeldete Nutzer"@de,
        "External Access for registered Users"@en ;
    rdfs:isDefinedBy <http://purl.org/ontology/libso> .

Licence: National Licence

lso:NationalLicence a lso:Licence ;
    rdfs:Label "Nationallizenz"@de, "National Licence"@en ;
    rdfs:isDefinedBy <http://purl.org/ontology/libso> .

Licence: Single User

lso:SingleUser a lso:Licence ;
    rdfs:Label "Einzelplatzversion"@de, "Sinlge User Version"@en ;
    rdfs:isDefinedBy <http://purl.org/ontology/libso> .

Licence: Pay Per Use

lso:PayPerUse a lso:Licence ;
    rdfs:Label "Kostenpflichtiges Angebot"@de, "Paid Offer"@en ;
    rdfs:isDefinedBy <http://purl.org/ontology/libso> .

4.3 Properties

Has Point of Service: This property is used to link local services to a physical point of service. It is only usable in connection with service entities of a lso:Local subclass (see rdfs:domain).

lso:hasPointOfService a rdf:Property ;
    rdfs:label "verfügbar am Standort"@de, "has point of service"@en ;
    rdfs:domain lso:Local ;
    rdfs:isDefinedBy <http://purl.org/ontology/libso> ;
    rdfs:range lso:PointOfService .

Has Access URL: This property is used to define an URL for the access to a web based Service. It is only usable in connection with service entities of a lso:WebBased subclass (see rdfs:domain).

lso:hasAccessURL a rdf:Property ;
    rdfs:label "Zugang über URL"@de, "has access URL"@en ;
    rdfs:domain lso:WebBased ;
    rdfs:isDefinedBy <http://purl.org/ontology/libso> ;
    rdfs:range rdfs:Literal .

Has Optional Web Access: This property is used to define an optional web access to a local service in principle.

lso:hasOptionalWebAccess a rdf:Property ;
    rdfs:label "Alternativer Internetzugang"@de, "has optional web access"@en ;
    rdfs:domain lso:Local ;
    rdfs:isDefinedBy <http://purl.org/ontology/libso> ;
    rdfs:range lso:WebBased .

Has Condition: This property is used to define one or more condition terms for the use of a certain service.

lso:hasCondition a rdf:Property ;
    rdfs:label "Nutzungskonditionen"@de, "has condition"@en ;
    rdfs:domain lso:LibraryService ;
    rdfs:isDefinedBy <http://purl.org/ontology/libso> ;
    rdfs:range lso:Condition .

Related Document: This property is used to link a condition of lso:Condition to an URL of a related document.

lso:relatedDocument a rdfs:Property ;
    rdfs:label "Zugehöriges Dokument"@de,
    "related Document"@en ;
    rdfs:domain rdfs:Condition ;
    rdfs:isDefinedBy <http://purl.org/ontology/libso> ;
    rdfs:range rdfs:Literal .

Has Period Time: This property is used to define a period for a Condition of lso:Condition for a certain service.

lso:hasPeriodTime a rdfs:Property ;
    rdfs:label "zugehörige Frist"@de, "has Period Time"@en ;
    rdfs:domain lso:Condition ;
    rdfs:isDefinedBy <http://purl.org/ontology/libso> ;
    rdfs:range rdfs:Literal .

Has Licence: This property is used to link a web based service of lso:WebBased to a licence of lso:Licence.

lso:hasLicence a rdfs:Property ;
    rdfs:label "unter Lizenz"@de,"has Licence"@en ;
    rdfs:domain lso:WebBasedUsage ;
    rdfs:isDefinedBy <http://purl.org/ontology/libso> ;
    rdfs:range lso:Licence .

Staff Contact: This property is used to link a service to a responsible person or depart- ment of vcard:Individual or vcard:Organization.

lso:staffContact a rdfs:Property ;
    rdfs:label "Kontakt zum Personal"@de, "staff Contact"@en ;
    rdfs:domain lso:LibraryService ;
    rdfs:isDefinedBy <http://purl.org/ontology/libso> ;
    rdfs:range vcard:Individual,
    vcard:Organization .

Floor: This property is used to define a floor for a service point of lso:POSDepartment.

lso:floor a rdfs:Property ;
    rdfs:label "Etage oder Ebene"@de, "floor"@en ;
    rdfs:domain lso:POSDepartment ;
    rdfs:isDefinedBy <http://purl.org/ontology/libso> ;
    rdfs:range rdfs:Literal .

Room: This property is used to define a room number for a service point of lso:POSDepartment.

lso:room a rdfs:Property ;
    rdfs:label "Zimmernummer"@de,
    "room number"@en ;
    rdfs:domain lso:POSDepartment ;
    rdfs:isDefinedBy <http://purl.org/ontology/libso> ;
    rdfs:range rdfs:Literal .