This document discusses the potential benefits of using linked data in libraries. It explains that linked data connects related data on the web using URIs and RDF triples. This allows data to be integrated, extended and reused. The document provides examples of how linked data could unlock library data, connect different library systems, and allow complex relationships to be modeled. Overall, it argues that linked data can help libraries share and integrate their data in new ways.

1. LINKED DATA IN
LIBRARIES OR:
HOW I LEARNED TO
STOP WORRYING AND
LOVE THE WEB

2. WHAT IS LINKED DATA?

3. USING THE WEB TO
CONNECT DATA
SIMILAR TO HOW IT
CONNECTS PAGES
• ―Linked Data is simply about using the web to create typed
links between data from different sources.‖ –Christian Bizer,
Tom Heath, and Tim Berners-Lee, ―Linked Data—The Story So
Far‖
• Connections between data are understandable by computer
programs
• Data is sharable, extensible, and reusable.

4. TIM BERNERS-LEE’S
FOUR RULES
1. Use URIs as names for things
2. Use HTTP URIs so that people can look up those names
3. When someone looks up a URI, provide useful
information, using the standards
4. Include links to other URIs, so they can discover more
things

5. BBC LINKED DATA

6. PICTURE WITH URI
http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/images/ic/credit/640x395/m/ma/mallard/mallard_1.jpg

7. SEARCHABLE IN
GOOGLE

8. RDF:
RESOURCE DESCRIPTION
FRAMEWORK
• The main standard of linked data
• RDF is a data model that expresses connections in the
form of ―triples‖
• Model, not schema (expressing RDF often done in XML)

9. THE RDF TRIPLE
Subject Predicate Object
First Second
Resource Resource
Defines relationship using set
vocabulary (ex. Dublin Core)

10. THE RDF TRIPLE:
CONCEPTUAL EXAMPLES
same as
author of

11. LINKED DATA GRAPH
Classifies
Document 3
Author A Subject
Written by
Written by Author of
Classified
as
Document Document
1 2 Author B
―Follow your nose.‖

12. WHAT CAN LINKED DATA DO
FOR LIBRARIES? (A LOT)

13. UNLOCK LIBRARY DATA
• Transforms library data so that it is of the web
• Becomes easily searchable
• Libraries can integrate outside data into what they already
have
• Anyone can reuse library data to create their own
applications

14. EXAMPLE: CONTROLLED
VOCABULARIES
• Create URIs for each word in a controlled vocabulary
• Creates method for classifying and cataloging web
resources that can easily be used by libraries and others
• Library of Congress has released LCSH as linked data,
and OCLC has a modified version of LCSH called FAST as
linked data

15. CATALOG COMPLEX
RELATIONSHIPS
• Linked Data is flexible enough to express entity-
relationship relationships such as FRBR/FRAD that MARC
struggles with
• Oslo Public Library Pode project
• Define relationships between different manifestations of a
work
• Allow patrons to either request any version a work or a
specific manifestation

16. CONNECT DIFFERENT PARTS
OF THE LIBRARY’S SYSTEM
• Different parts of the library structure (ILS, ERMS, different
databases, etc.) would be able to share data more easily,
allowing searches to easily jump from one area to another
• This is still a long way off

17. THE END

18. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Baker, Thomas et all. ―Library Linked Data Incubator Group Final Report.‖ W3C
Incubator Group Report. October 2011. Available at:
http://www.w3.org/2005/Incubator/lld/XGR-lld-20111025/
Berners-Lee, Tim. ―Linked Data.‖ W3C. June 2009. Available at:
http://www.w3.org/DesignIssues/LinkedData
Bizer et all. ―Linked Data—The Story So Far.‖ International Journal on Semantic Web
and Information Systems 5 (2009): 1-22.
Chudnoy, Daniel. ―Libraries in Computers: What Linked Data is Missing.‖ Computers in
Libraries 31 (2011): 35-36.
Fox, Robert. ―Avoiding the Weak Link.‖ OCLC Systems & Services 27 (2011): 163-169.
Miller, Eric, and Westfall, Micheline. ―Linked Data and Libraries.‖ The Serials Librarian
60 (2011): 17-22.
Singer, Ross. ―Linked Library Data Now!‖ Journal of Electronic Resources Librarianship
21 (2009): 114-126.
Wallis, Richard. ―Linked Data Applicable for Libraries.‖ Talis. Available at:
http://consulting.talis.com/resources/presentations-from-linked-data-and-
libraries-2011/
Westrum, Anne-Lena et all. ―Improving the Presentation of Library Data Using FRBR
and Linked Data.‖ Code{4}Lib Journal 16 (2011): 1-7.