Other Object (Publication) Types

Apart from group publications and single publications, three other types of publications are available in the dLibra system: planned publications, publications without content, and removed publications.

Planned Object

Planned publications (planned objects) are used for presenting library digitization plans. The mechanism of planned publications facilitates cooperation between various digital libraries (which can see what the other libraries are planning) and informs library website users about the library digitization plans. A planned publication does not have content, and after it has been added, it becomes a standard publication (the first edition of the publication is automatically created). When a planned publication is created, some basic information about the future publication is added, for example: metadata, assignment to a collection, and users’ publication permissions. After the content has been added, those properties are copied to appropriate elements of the created publication (for instance, the metadata are copied to the first edition of the publication).

Object Without Content

A publication without content (an object without content) is created by removing the content (files) of a standard publication. It is a one-way operation, which means that once it has been carried out, the content cannot be added back to the publication. A publication without content cannot be searched or found on any list on the library Internet sites; it is only available at its permalink; every publication has such a link. A publication without content retains all properties of a publication (such as: metadata, number of editions, assignment to a collection, etc.), so that users who have the permalink to it are not confused by the missing, removed content. Those users will be informed that the content of the publication has been removed, and all information related to the publication will be displayed (off course, it will not be possible to browse the content of the publication after it has been removed). Publications without content are visible in the Editor and Administrator Application so that it is clear which publications have been deprived of their content and what their properties are.

That mechanism may come in handy when the author of a publication in the digital library decides not to make it available there any more. In such a situation, the editor can remove the content of the publication and state the reason for that. New readers will not be able to find that publication in the library, and the readers who have a link to it will receive appropriate information.

Removed Object

Removed publications (removed objects) are publications deleted from the system. They are not visible in the Editor and Administrator Application, and they cannot be found in the Reader Application (through a search or on the publication list). The remaining information about the publication are stored in the system in case of a reader having the permalink to it. After visiting the address, the reader will see the remaining information about the publication and the information about the date of the complete deletion of the publication.

Normally, a published item should never be completely deleted from a digital library. Complete deletion is only useful during tests or similar activities.