Re: Library Linked Data XG Final Report published; XG closed

From: Eric Lease Morgan <emorgan_at_nyob>
Date: Tue, 25 Oct 2011 16:12:04 -0400
To: NGC4LIB_at_LISTSERV.ND.EDU
Thomas Krichel wrote:

> Library Linked Data Incubator Group Final Report - http://bit.ly/sQ3o6r


Thomas, thank you for bringing this to our attention, and after quickly looking over the document, here are a number of quotes I thought were particularly juicy:

  * Linked Data is not about creating a different Web, but rather
    about enhancing the Web through the addition of structured data.
  
  * By promoting a bottom-up approach to publishing data, Linked
    Data creates an opportunity for libraries to improve the value
    proposition of describing their assets.
  
  * Linked Data may be a first step toward a "cloud-based" approach
    to managing cultural information, which could be more
    cost-effective than stand-alone systems in institutions.
  
  * With Linked Open Data, libraries can increase their presence on
    the Web, where most information seekers can be found.
  
  * The use of the Web and Web-based identifiers will make
    up-to-date resource descriptions directly citable by catalogers.
  
  * History shows that all technologies are transitory, and the
    history of information technology suggests that specific data
    formats are especially short-lived.
  
  * Library developers and vendors will directly benefit from not
    being tied to library-specific data formats.
  
  * Most information in library data is encoded as
    display-oriented, natural-language text.
  
  * Work on library Linked Data can be hampered by the disparity in
    concepts and terminology between libraries and the Semantic Web
    community.
  
  * Relatively few bibliographic datasets have been made available
    as Linked Data, and even less metadata has been produced for
    journal articles, citations, or circulation data.
  
  * A major advantage of Linked Data technology is realized with
    the establishment of connections between and across datasets.
  
  * Libraries should embrace the web of information, both by making
    their data available for use as Linked Data and by using the web
    of data in library services. Ideally, library data should
    integrate fully with other resources on the Web, creating greater
    visibility for libraries and bringing library services to
    information seekers.


BTW, a few of the authors of the Report are members of our list here at NGC4Lib Central.

-- 
Eric Lease Morgan, Digital Projects Librarian
Hesburgh Libraries, University of Notre Dame
Received on Tue Oct 25 2011 - 16:14:18 EDT