Semantic Navigation on the web: the LCSH case study

In this paper, an innovative ontology-based, information seeking process is proposed, capable of aiding searchers in their quest to fulfill their information needs. Such a process supports multilinguality and concept disambiguation in a way that prevents overcrowding the screen while exposing the expressiveness of the underlying ontology. In order to assess the effectiveness of the proposed approach in a real-world scenario, a prototype web-based application is developed by utilizing the hidden knowledge existing within the authority records of the Online Public Access Catalog – OPAC located at the library of the Ionian University in Greece. More specifically, the underlying Library of Congress Subject Headings LCSHs have been employed to formulate an ontology in OWL format. Interaction with library users is facilitated through an intuitive, web-based GUI implemented in AJAX technology.