If no match is found, a list of similarly spelled terms is presented from which you may select a search term. The application of vocabularies as search assistants in cultural heritage databases is a relatively new practice and most of the applications you will see on the Web are in the prototype stage. The theory has long been a research topic in artificial intelligence and information science labs, yet most of the applications have surfaced in scientific databases and commercial search engines. Fortunately, the arts and humanities sector will benefit from recent research initiatives, such as the DLI is developing intelligent search interfaces for digital collections using vocabularies. The UCLA Fowler Museum of Cultural History developed its prototype in collaboration with Questor Systems, the museum's collection management system vendor.
Users can refine searches for museum objects and images by broadening or narrowing their topic.
This is accomplished through a hierarchical lexicon that is made available at the time of the query. The search engine automatically includes synonyms and spelling variants in the search. The Holsinger Studio Collection Image Database is a prototype created by the Special Collections Department of the University of Virginia Library. The catalogers used both AAT and LCSH terms to provide topical access points. Image Directory The Image Directory, an online publication of Academic Press, is a resource of information on art images from a network of participating museums, libraries, societies, and other institutions.