Article: http://www.niso.org/schemas/iso25964 part1: part2: part1: First Edition
part2: First Edition International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
ISO/TC 46/SC 9
Thesauri and interoperability with other vocabularies
Part 1: Thesauri for information retrieval
Part 2: Interoperability with other vocabularies
ANSI/NISO Z39.19 SKOS
ISO 2788, ISO 5964, BS 8723
Semantics, Thesaurus part1: https://www.iso.org/standard/53657.html part2: https://www.iso.org/standard/53658.html
ISO 25964 is the international standard for thesauri, published in two parts as follows:
ISO 25964 Information and documentation - Thesauri and interoperability with other vocabularies
Part 1: Thesauri for information retrieval [published August 2011]
Part 2: Interoperability with other vocabularies [published March 2013]
It was issued by ISO, the International Organization for Standardization, and its official website is maintained by its secretariat in NISO, the USA National Information Standards Organization. Each part of the standard can be purchased separately from ISO or from any of its national member bodies (such as ANSI, BSI, AFNOR, DIN, etc.). Some parts of it are available free of charge from the official website.
History
The first international standard for thesauri was ISO 2788, Guidelines for the establishment and development of monolingual thesauri, originally published in 1974 and updated in 1986. In 1985 it was joined by the complementary standard ISO 5964, Guidelines for the establishment and development of multilingual thesauri.
Over the years ISO 2788 and ISO 5964 were adopted as national standards in several countries, for example Canada, France and UK. In the UK they were given alias numbers BS 5723 and BS 6723 respectively. And it was in the UK around the turn of the century that work began to revise them for the networking needs of the new millennium. This resulted during 2005 - 2008 in publication of the 5-part British Standard BS 8723, as follows:
BS 8723 Structured vocabularies for information retrieval - Guide
Part 1: Definitions, symbols and abbreviations
Part 2: Thesauri
Part 3: Vocabularies other than thesauri
Part 4: Interoperability between vocabularies
Part 5: Exchange formats and protocols for interoperability
Even before the last part of BS 8723 was published, work began to adopt and adapt it as an international standard to replace ISO 2788 and ISO 5964. The project was led by a Working Group of ISO's Technical Committee 46 (Information and documentation) Subcommittee 9 (Identification and description) known as “ISO TC46/SC9/WG8 Structured Vocabularies”.
ISO 2788 and ISO 5964 were withdrawn in 2011, when they were replaced by the first part of ISO 25964. The second part of ISO 25964 was issued in March 2013, completing the project.
Aims and Scope
ISO 25964 is for thesauri intended to support information retrieval, and specifically to guide the choice of terms used in indexing, tagging and search queries.
The primary objective is thus summarised in the introduction to the standard as:
"If both the indexer and the searcher are guided to choose the same term for the same concept, then relevant documents will be retrieved."
Whereas most of the applications envisaged for ISO 2788 and ISO 5964 were databases in a single domain, often in-house or for paper-based systems, ISO 25964 provides additional guidance for the new context of networked applications, including the Semantic Web. A thesaurus is one among several types of controlled vocabulary used in this context.
ISO 25964 Part 1
A thesaurus compliant with ISO 25964-1 (as Part 1 is known) lists all the concepts available for indexing in a given context, and labels each of them with a preferred term, as well as any synonyms that apply. Relationships between the concepts and between the terms are shown, making it easy to navigate around the field while building up a search query. The main types of relationship include:
equivalence (between synonyms and near-synonyms e.g. motor-bikes, motor-cycles and motorcycles)
hierarchical (between broader and narrower concepts e.g. flowers and roses)
associative (between concepts that are closely related in some non-hierarchical way, e.g. between a disease and the virus that causes that disease)
In multilingual thesauri equivalence also applies between corresponding terms in different natural languages. Establishing correspondence is not always easy, and the standard provides recommendations for handling the difficulties that commonly arise.
ISO 25964-1 explains how to build a monolingual or a multilingual thesaurus, how to display it, and how to manage its development. There is a data model to use for handling thesaurus data (especially when exchanging data between systems) and an XML schema for encoding the data. Both the model and the schema can be accessed 24/7, free of charge, on the official website hosted by NISO. The standard also sets out the features you should look for when choosing software to manage the thesaurus.
ISO 25964 Part 2
ISO 25964-2 deals with the challenges of using one thesaurus in combination with another, and/or with some other type of controlled vocabulary or knowledge organization system (KOS). The types covered include classification schemes, taxonomies, subject heading schemes, ontologies, name authority lists, terminologies and synonym rings. Within a single organization it is common to find several different such KOSs used in contexts such as the records management system, the library catalogue, the corporate intranet, the research lab, etc. To help users with the challenge of running a single search across all the available collections, ISO 25964-2 provides guidance on mapping between the terms and concepts of one thesaurus and those of the other KOSs. Where mapping is not a sensible option, the standard recommends other forms of complementary vocabulary use.
Similarly on the Internet there is an opportunity to make a simultaneous search of repositories and databases that have been indexed with different KOSs, on an even wider scale. Interoperability between the different networks, platforms, software applications, and languages (both natural and artificial) is reliant on the adoption of numerous protocols and standards. ISO 25964-2 is the one to address interoperability between structured vocabularies, especially where a thesaurus is involved.
Related standards
Since Part 1 of ISO 25964 was published it has been adopted by the national standards bodies in a number of countries. For example, The British Standards Institution (BSI) in the UK has adopted it and labelled it unchanged as BS ISO 25964-1. At the time of writing similar consideration is under way for Part 2.
The American standard ANSI/NISO Z39.19 - Guidelines for the Construction, Format, and Management of Monolingual Controlled Vocabularies covers some of the same ground as ISO 25964-1. It deals with monolingual lists, synonym rings and taxonomies as well as thesauri, but does not provide a data model, nor address multilingual vocabularies or other aspects of interoperability, such as mapping between KOSs. Where the two standards overlap, they are broadly compatible with each other. NISO is actively involved in both standards, having participated in the work of developing ISO 25964 as well as running its secretariat.
The W3C Recommendation SKOS (Simple Knowledge Organization System) has a close relationship with ISO 25964 in the context of the Semantic Web. SKOS applies to all sorts of “simple KOSs” that can be found on the Web, including thesauri and others. Whereas ISO 25964-1 advises on the selection and fitting together of concepts, terms and relationships to make a good thesaurus, SKOS addresses the next step - porting the thesaurus to the Web. And whereas ISO 25964-2 recommends the sort of mappings that can be established between one KOS and another, SKOS presents a way of expressing the mappings when published to the Web.
See also SKOS ISO 2788 ISO 5964 Thesaurus (information retrieval) References External links ISO 25964-1 https://web.archive.org/web/20190318182556/http://www.willpowerinfo.co.uk/glossary.htm
Discussion of BS 8723 data model
the ISO TC46/SC9/WG8 page
an XML-schema for exchange of ISO 25964 thesauri
the ISO 25964 based ontology, a SKOS and SKOS-XL extension |
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ISO 25964 – the international standard for thesauri and interoperability with other vocabularies
This is the official website for information about ISO 25964, hosted by NISO, the TC46/SC9 Secretariat.
Summary description of ISO 25964
Development background Maintenance responsibility
Content of Part 1 (ISO 25964-1)
Content of Part 2 (ISO 25964-2)
Interoperability with SKOS and other schemas
Continuing work and discussion
Further reading and related resources
Version 1.4
ISO 25964-1 1.4 xsd
Latest version Development background
Summary description of ISO 25964
ISO 25964. Thesauri and interoperability with other vocabularies
Part 1: Thesauri for information retrieval
Part 2: Interoperability with other vocabularies
Part 1 of the standard, published in 2011, covers all aspects of developing a thesaurus, monolingual or multilingual. It has replaced the previous standards ISO 2788 and ISO 5964. To encourage networking interoperability, it includes a
data model and an XML schema for data exchange.
Part 2 of the standard, to be published in 2013, covers new ground not previously addressed in any standard. Its main aim is to encourage high quality information retrieval across networked resources that have been indexed with different vocabularies. It explains how to set up mappings between the concepts in such vocabularies, and other forms of complementary use.
Both standards can be obtained directly from
ISO via the ISO Store
, or from any of ISO’s member bodies, such as
ANSI
in the US or
BSI in UK. (See
list of all such outlets
). They are stocked also in a number of public and university libraries. Definitions contained in the standards can be freely viewed at
https://www.iso.org/obp/ui/ (search for “25964”). Development background
ISO 2788 and ISO 5964, the standards for monolingual and multilingual thesauri respectively, were first published in 1974 and 1985 respectively, and only ISO 2788 was subsequently updated. In 2008 it was judged necessary to bring the two together and overhaul them completely, adding substantial new content to cater for the needs of networked information retrieval. A Working Group known as “WG8: Structured Vocabularies” was established under the auspices of ISO Technical Committee 46 (Information and documentation) Subcommittee 9 (Identification and description).
Active members of WG8 between 2008 and 2013 have included:
Victor Beloozerov (RU) Sylvie Dalbin (FR)
Johan De Smedt (BE)
Stella Dextre Clarke (GB)
Axel Ermert (DE)
F. Javier García Marco (ES)
Alan Gilchrist (GB) Michèle Hudon (CA) Daniel Kless (DE) Traugott Koch (DE) Sophie Lessard (CA) Richard Light (GB) Jutta Lindenthal (DE) Marianne Lykke (DK) Tracy Powell (NZ) Esther Scheven (DE) Douglas Tudhope (GB) Bernard Vatant (FR) Leonard Will (GB) Marcia Zeng (US)
The Group is chaired by Stella Dextre Clarke, and the Secretariat is provided by NISO.
While developing the new standard, the group has maintained contact with the people and organizations responsible for related standards. For example, The British Standard BS 8723
[26]
was used heavily in preparing the first drafts of ISO 25964. Contact has also been maintained with the committee responsible for the American standard ANSI/NISO Z39.19
[25]
. Care has similarly been taken to maintain compatibility with the W3C standard SKOS
[29] . ( See below .)
More background on the development history can be found on the
Further reading and related resources page
. See especially [2] , [9] and [10] . Maintenance responsibility
Like all ISO standards, each Part of ISO 25964 is subject to review five years after publication. It will be the responsibility of ISO and its member bodies to ensure that the documents are updated as necessary. The NISO Secretariat has established a public e-mail list for the 25964info interest group; by subscribing to this you can submit comments, suggestions and queries about the standard. Any corrections that are agreed will be noted as
Errata
on this site. See the
ISO 25964 Interest Group e-mail list
for news of continuing work around the implementation of the standards.
Content of Part 1 (ISO 25964-1)
Scope
This part of ISO 25964 gives recommendations for the development and maintenance of thesauri intended for information retrieval applications, whether monolingual or multilingual. It is applicable to vocabularies used for retrieving information from all types of information resources, irrespective of the media used (text, sound, still or moving image, physical object or multimedia) including knowledge bases and portals, bibliographic databases, text, museum or multimedia collections, and the items within them.
This part of ISO 25964 also provides a
data model and recommended format
for the import and export of thesaurus data.
Requirements of software to manage thesauri are given, but not for the databases or software used directly in search or indexing applications (although the needs of such applications are anticipated among the recommendations for thesaurus management).
Abbreviated Table of contents
Foreword Introduction 1 Scope
2 Terms and definitions
3 Symbols, abbreviated terms and other conventions
4 Thesaurus overview and objectives
5 Concepts and their scope in a thesaurus
6 Thesaurus terms 7 Complex concepts
8 The equivalence relationship, in a monolingual context
9 Equivalence across languages
10 Relationships between concepts
11 Facet analysis
12 Presentation and layout
13 Managing thesaurus construction and maintenance
14 Guidelines for thesaurus management software
15 Data model
16 Integration of thesauri with applications
17 Exchange formats 18 Protocols
Annex A (informative) Examples of displays found in published thesauri
Annex B (informative) XML Schema for data exchange
Bibliography Index
Provisions for data exchange
The ISO 25964 XML schema for data exchange is based upon the data model in Clause 15; see
[1] and [4]
. Although the data model and schema provide for some very sophisticated thesauri, using any or all of the features described in the standard, much of their content is optional. Thus in practice they can be stripped down to work easily for very simple vocabularies. See more explanation at the
ISO 25964 Schema webpage
, where you can access and download the
model and
version 1.4 of the schema
free of charge, together with
documentation and a test document
illustrating how the schema may be applied.
Content of Part 2 (ISO 25964-2)
Scope
This part of ISO 25964 is applicable to thesauri and other types of vocabulary that are commonly used for information retrieval. It describes, compares and contrasts the elements and features of these vocabularies that are implicated when interoperability is needed. It gives recommendations for the establishment and maintenance of mappings between multiple thesauri, or between thesauri and other types of vocabularies.
Follow the links in the
reading list
for more detail on mapping practice.
Abbreviated Table of contents
Foreword Introduction 1 Scope 2 Normative references
3 Terms and definitions
4 Symbols, abbreviations and other conventions
5 Objectives and identification
6 Structural models for mapping across vocabularies
7 Types of mapping
8 Equivalence mappings 9 Hierarchical mappings 10 Associative mappings
11 Exact, inexact and partial equivalence
12 Use of mappings in information retrieval
13 Handling pre-coordination
14 Techniques for identifying candidate mappings
15 Managing the data
16 Display of mapped vocabularies
17 Classification schemes
18 Classification schemes used for records management
19 Taxonomies
20 Subject heading schemes
21 Ontologies 22 Terminologies
23 Name authority lists
24 Synonym rings
Annex A (informative) Management of terminological data in support of interoperability
Bibliography Index
Interoperability with SKOS and other schemas
To reach the goal of interoperability across today’s expanding networks is an immense and infinitely extensible endeavor. Think of it as a jigsaw of standards and protocols, each shaped to interlock with the neighboring pieces. Think of it also as a community effort, in which the developers of each jigsaw piece must collaborate with others to ensure the smooth flow of error-free data.
Especially close neighbors in the Semantic Web jigsaw are ISO 25964 and SKOS
[29]
. ISO 25964-1 essentially advises on the selection and fitting together of concepts, terms and relationships to make a good thesaurus. SKOS addresses the next step, with recommendations on porting the resultant thesauri (or other ‘simple Knowledge Organization Systems’) to the Web. ISO 25964-2 recommends the sort of mappings that can be established between one KOS and another; SKOS presents a way of expressing these when published to the Web.
To ensure a good fit between the recommendations of these complementary standards, the teams responsible for them have maintained contact throughout. The respective data models are not identical, because ISO 25964 must provide for the need of all sorts of thesauri (whether for Web use or for other applications) while SKOS
[29]
must provide for all sorts of KOS (including classification schemes and many others that do not comply with ISO25964). Despite the differences, however, there is good alignment, making it possible to develop a
set of correspondences
between components of the data models. Where the basic SKOS data model lacks a construct that corresponds to a feature of the ISO 25964 model, the SKOS-XL
[30]
model has been used, supplemented by additional proposals where necessary. Care has been taken to avoid any incompatibility with another ongoing project to align SKOS with MADS
[27] . Continuing work
Based on the documented
correspondence table
, an RDF schema that provides a machine-readable version for these mappings as well as for the elements from the ISO 25964 model is available on
http://purl.org/iso25964/skos-thes . Privacy Policy
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