 |
 |
Steven, Kate: One very confusing choice made by BIBFRAME is in the use of the term *Instance* to describe the class "http://bibframe.org/vocab/Instance <http://bibframe.org/vocab-list/#Instance>". Apart from the problematic use of a broad term from a different field to label a new, bibliographic specific concept, the decision not to use an existing term and concept from cataloging makes it harder for subject matter experts to spot problems in the definition of the new concept. The definition of the class http://bibframe.org/vocab/Instance is a "[r]esource *reflecting* an individual, material embodiment of the Work." (emphasis added). If some individual is an instance of http://bibframe.org/vocab/Instance, it is an instance of a description of something. Statements made about a such an individual are statements about the description, not about the thing described. The definition uses the term *embodiment. *In FRBR terminology, this embodiment is a relationship between a FRBR *Expression* and a FRBR *Manifestation*. Since BIBFRAME combines FRBR *Work* with FRBR *Expression* *, *this suggests that the thing that a http://bibframe.org/vocab/Instance is a description of corresponds to a FRBR *Manifestation**.* The use of the phrase *material embodiment *appears to reflect the phrase *physical embodiment* in the definition of *Manifestation* FRBR documentation. These phrases are somewhat confusing, as a *FRBR Manifestation* is not a physical or material thing; it is a set (more specifically, an *equivalence class*) whose members are individual, physical FRBR *Item*s. These *Item*s share a prototypical set of physical characteristics (typeface, etc), but are different physical objects. (The editors confirm that this is the intended reading) If the thing an instance of http://bibframe.org/vocab/Instance is a description of is a FRBR Manifestation, then it describes a set of *Item*s, not an *Item* (even if the set only has one member). Interpreting properties like http://bibframe.org/vocab/otherPhysicalFormat (which is a relationship between two instances of http://bibframe.org/vocab/Instance , and which is defined as "Resource that is manifested in another physical carrier.") is left as an exercise for the reader. Etiology may be more helpful than Ontology. Answers may involve the number 776. Simon On Wed, Jan 14, 2015 at 11:57 AM, Bowers, Kate A. <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > Then it is critical to discussion to clearly talk about bf:thingies as > “instances” rather than “resources” or to always refer to a “library > resource” or an“rdf resource”. > > > > I know it feels silly, but when context is essential to convey meaning, > it’s essential to express it consistently! > > > > Kate > > > > *Kate Bowers* > > Collections Services Archivist for Metadata, Systems, and Standards > > Harvard University Archives > > [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]> > > 617.496.2713 > > voice: (617) 384-7787 > > fax: (617) 495-8011 > > web: http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:hul.eresource:archives > > Twitter: @k8_bowers > > > > > > *From:* Bibliographic Framework Transition Initiative Forum [mailto: > [log in to unmask]] *On Behalf Of *Steven Folsom > *Sent:* Wednesday, January 14, 2015 11:50 AM > > *To:* [log in to unmask] > *Subject:* Re: [BIBFRAME] Annotations in BibFrame > > > > Kate, > > > > Resource has at least two meanings in this thread. > > - A library resource from the library collection. > - An RDF resource… "Any IRI > <http://www.w3.org/TR/2014/REC-rdf11-concepts-20140225/#dfn-iri> or > literal > <http://www.w3.org/TR/2014/REC-rdf11-concepts-20140225/#dfn-literal> > denotes something in the world (the "universe of discourse"). These > things are called resources. Anything can be a resource, including > physical things, documents, abstract concepts, numbers and strings; the > term is synonymous with "entity" as it is used in the RDF Semantics > specification [RDF11-MT > <http://www.w3.org/TR/2014/REC-rdf11-concepts-20140225/#bib-RDF11-MT>]. > The resource denoted by an IRI is called its referent > <http://www.w3.org/TR/2014/REC-rdf11-concepts-20140225/#dfn-referent>, > and the resource denoted by a literal is called its literal value > <http://www.w3.org/TR/2014/REC-rdf11-concepts-20140225/#dfn-literal-value>. > Literals have datatypes > <http://www.w3.org/TR/2014/REC-rdf11-concepts-20140225/#dfn-datatype> > that define the range of possible values, such as strings, numbers, and > dates. Special kind of literals, language-tagged strings > <http://www.w3.org/TR/2014/REC-rdf11-concepts-20140225/#dfn-language-tagged-string>, > denote plain-text strings in a natural language.” Taken from- > http://www.w3.org/TR/2014/REC-rdf11-concepts-20140225/#resources-and-statements > > > > The way I read the BIBFRAME documentation is: > > - The bf:Instance is an RDF resource "reflecting an individual, > material embodiment of the Work.” (a physical library resource, including > digital resources made up of 1’s and 0’s). > - The bf:heldItem is an RDF resource reflecting the abstract concept > of “Item holdings information”. > > > > >