1. May 2, 2013
OCLC and LYRASIS Present
Linked Data:
What it Means for the Future of
Libraries

2. Using this software

3. May 2, 2013
Robin Fay
Head, DBM/Cataloging
University of Georgia Libraries
Peter Murray
LYRASIS Digital Technology Services
LYRASIS

4. Discussion points
• As we review today, consider and be ready toAs we review today, consider and be ready toAs we review today, consider and be ready toAs we review today, consider and be ready to
discuss:discuss:discuss:discuss:
• How will using linked data change our workflows,
and how will this challenge us?
• Who will be responsible for maintaining the
provenance of information?
• How will linked data be graphed? Will a standard
bearer like OCLC or LC provide this, or will this be
something that libraries will provide?

5. Agenda
• Overview of linked data
–What is linked data?
–What are linked data concepts?
• Discussion

6. •Linked data is: “about using the Web to
connect related data that wasn't
previously linked, or using the Web to
lower the barriers to linking data”
•Think> related, series records, authority
files
•Libraries already using linking behavior
•Projects such as the NYT Linked Open
Data project and the Virtual Authority File
project are resources of controlled
vocabularies
•Verified and digital identity accounts
such as openID and claimID to
differentiate names

7. Basic principles of linked dataBasic principles of linked dataBasic principles of linked dataBasic principles of linked data
It keeps us from having to reIt keeps us from having to reIt keeps us from having to reIt keeps us from having to re----enter or copy informationenter or copy informationenter or copy informationenter or copy information
– Making our data:Making our data:Making our data:Making our data:
• reusablereusablereusablereusable
• easy to correct (correct one record instead of multiples)easy to correct (correct one record instead of multiples)easy to correct (correct one record instead of multiples)easy to correct (correct one record instead of multiples)
• efficientefficientefficientefficient
• and potentially useful to othersand potentially useful to othersand potentially useful to othersand potentially useful to others
• Linked dataLinked dataLinked dataLinked data can build relationships in different wayscan build relationships in different wayscan build relationships in different wayscan build relationships in different ways ---- allowing us toallowing us toallowing us toallowing us to
create temporary collections (a user could organize their searchcreate temporary collections (a user could organize their searchcreate temporary collections (a user could organize their searchcreate temporary collections (a user could organize their search
results in a way that makes sense to them) or more permanentresults in a way that makes sense to them) or more permanentresults in a way that makes sense to them) or more permanentresults in a way that makes sense to them) or more permanent
(collocating ALL works by a particular author more easily; pulling(collocating ALL works by a particular author more easily; pulling(collocating ALL works by a particular author more easily; pulling(collocating ALL works by a particular author more easily; pulling
together photographs more easily)together photographs more easily)together photographs more easily)together photographs more easily)

8. • Advantages
• Reusable data
• Potential to provide and build relationships
• discoverability
• How library data fits into linked data
o FRBR-- a bibliographic FRAMEWORK which is more semantic by
nature
o RDA (Resource Description & Access metadata rules which are not
tied to a programming language such as MARC but can work with
semantic web standards like XML
o IRs, and CMS like Drupal which have semantic web capabilities
• RDA expressed as RDFa

9. What is linked data and open dataWhat is linked data and open dataWhat is linked data and open dataWhat is linked data and open data????
o Linked data is about reusing data
o We already do some linked data in our library
catalogs and even in our daily lives
o The link in a bibliographic record (like an authority
record link) is linking data behavior
o A link that we share to our friends on facebook is
linked data (of sorts)
• Linked data is a link to a record/data/content that
can then be utilized in some way
• Open data is data that available to be used in some
way with no barriers to access (licensing, etc.)

10. The RDF Triple:
conceptual Examples
same as
author of
Predicate/verb

11. 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
URIs = Uniform Resource Identifier

12. What can linked data do for libraries?
• URIs creates methods for classifying that can be used
(linked to!) by others
• Library of Congress has released LCSH as linked data,
and OCLC has a modified version of LCSH called FAST
as linked data
• Linked Data is flexible enough to express entity-
relationship relationships such as FRBR/FRAD
• Different databases (ILS, ERMS, IRs, local databases,
etc.) allowing sharing of data – potentially more
consistent data – allowing for collocation across
resources and allowing users to easily find resources
regardless of source

13. Our data in a semantic viewOur data in a semantic viewOur data in a semantic viewOur data in a semantic view
Source: Getting triples from records: the role of ISBD
http://www.slideshare.net/scottishlibraries/isbd-record2triples
“Bib”
:Record
id as
subject
Field role and
relationship
Can map to record
such as viaf

16. • Our future systems will most likely not use MARC, but a
semantic web friendly schema
• Currently, the Library of Congress has started a project called
the Bibliographic FrameworkBibliographic FrameworkBibliographic FrameworkBibliographic Framework TransitionTransitionTransitionTransition InitiativeInitiativeInitiativeInitiative
• Why?Why?Why?Why?
• We need something that is more flexible, not flat in fileWe need something that is more flexible, not flat in fileWe need something that is more flexible, not flat in fileWe need something that is more flexible, not flat in file
structure, yet works with a semantic framework.structure, yet works with a semantic framework.structure, yet works with a semantic framework.structure, yet works with a semantic framework.
• We need something that works better with differentWe need something that works better with differentWe need something that works better with differentWe need something that works better with different
metadata schemasmetadata schemasmetadata schemasmetadata schemas
• This new framework will provide us with enormous functionality
in our catalogs and allow us to fully use RDA. It will allow us to
move forward into the semantic web world
RDA, FRBR, and MARC

17. BIBFRAME

18. A changing library and WEB landscapeA changing library and WEB landscapeA changing library and WEB landscapeA changing library and WEB landscape
• Automation and new technologiesnew technologiesnew technologiesnew technologies
• The web has changedThe web has changedThe web has changedThe web has changed
• Large scale bibliographic databasesdatabasesdatabasesdatabases
• CooperativeCooperativeCooperativeCooperative cataloging
• Administrative desire to decreasedecreasedecreasedecrease costscostscostscosts
• Greater variety ofvariety ofvariety ofvariety of mediamediamediamedia in library collections
(electronic!)
• User expectations and needsUser expectations and needsUser expectations and needsUser expectations and needs
• FRBR is our data modelFRBR is our data modelFRBR is our data modelFRBR is our data model –––– semantic web friendly!semantic web friendly!semantic web friendly!semantic web friendly!

19. Discussion points
• How will using linked data change our workflows,
and how will this challenge us?
• Who will be responsible for maintaining the
provenance of information?
• How will linked data be graphed? Will a standard
bearer like OCLC or LC provide this, or will this be
something that libraries will provide?

20. Thank you!

21. Thank you!
• Our speakers
• You!
• Questions?
• russell.palmer@lyrasis.org

22. Break