Linked data is a way of publishing and connecting data on the web using common standards and formats. It can help libraries to share and discover resources, enrich metadata, and enhance user experience. In this article, you will learn how to use linked data to expand resource sharing in libraries.
Linked data is based on the idea that data can be linked to other data using identifiers, such as Uniform Resource Identifiers (URIs). These identifiers can be dereferenced, meaning that they can be accessed and resolved to provide more information. For example, a URI for a book can link to its author, publisher, genre, and other related books. Linked data uses the Resource Description Framework (RDF) to represent data as triples, which consist of a subject, a predicate, and an object. For example, a triple can state that a book has an author, and the author is a person with a name and a nationality.
Linked data can benefit libraries in several ways. First, it can improve resource discovery and access by exposing library data to the web and linking it to other data sources, such as Wikipedia, DBpedia, VIAF, and WorldCat. This can increase the visibility and relevance of library collections and services, and enable users to find and explore resources across different domains and contexts. Second, it can enrich metadata and data quality by allowing libraries to reuse and integrate data from authoritative sources, such as vocabularies, thesauri, and ontologies. This can reduce duplication, inconsistency, and ambiguity, and enhance the semantic and structural interoperability of data. Third, it can enhance user experience and engagement by providing more information, context, and functionality for users. For example, linked data can enable users to browse, filter, and visualize data in various ways, such as by subject, location, or time period.
In order to use linked data in libraries, there are various approaches and tools to consider depending on the library's goals, resources, and capabilities. Generally, it is important to assess the current data and metadata standards, formats, and systems, and define the use cases and requirements for using linked data. Additionally, it is necessary to choose data sources and identifiers, map the data to RDF and relevant vocabularies/ontologies, publish/expose the data as linked data on the web, link the data to other sources (internal/external) using URIs/RDF links, and evaluate/improve the data/links using metrics, feedback, and best practices. To do all of this, one can use existing tools/frameworks/platforms/services or create their own custom vocabularies/ontologies/interfaces/API/linking rules/evaluation criteria.
The use of linked data in libraries can bring many advantages, such as increasing visibility and impact of library collections and services on the web, improving discovery and access of library resources, enriching metadata and data quality, and enabling new forms of analysis, visualization, and interaction with data. However, the implementation and maintenance of linked data projects requires technical skills, knowledge, and resources. Furthermore, there are issues of data privacy, security, and ethics when dealing with personal or sensitive data. Additionally, managing complexity, diversity, and dynamics of data sources, formats, and standards is essential in ensuring the quality, consistency, and reliability of data and links. Finally, it is important to engage stakeholders in order to educate them about the value and potential of linked data.
Linked data projects can be demanding for library staff in collaborating institutions who are learning the best practices for linking data in a cohesive way. Learning the standards takes time and resources. However, the quality and depth-breadth of the resulting output justifies the effort by creating complex information resources that can be useful locally, regionally, and globally as building blocks for understanding.
Using linked data in libraries is becoming increasingly popular, especially at the national and local levels. The Library of Congress (LC) is a leader in this area, having developed BIBFRAME, a new bibliographic framework based on linked data principles. They have also published and linked various data sets, such as subject headings, name authorities, classification schemes, and geographic names. The British Library (BL) has also implemented linked data by publishing and linking its bibliographic data, as well as participating in projects like Europeana, LODLAM, and Open Metadata Registry. The National Library of New Zealand (NLNZ) has used linked data to improve resource discovery and access. They have published and linked their bibliographic data, as well as other data sets like DigitalNZ aggregator, the Te Puna interlibrary loan service, and the Papers Past newspaper archive. Additionally, they have developed Te Puna Search – a new discovery interface that uses linked data to provide users with more information, context, and functionality.
In the ongoing conversation about examples of using linked data in libraries, I'd like to briefly mention how we at Maastricht University Library are integrating this concept. We're utilizing Omeka S for our digitalized collections, making them not only accessible but also interconnected through linked and open data. It's a step towards enhancing discoverability and enriching research possibilities. #LinkedData #omeka #MaastrichtUniversityLibrary #DigitalCollections