On 25/05/2012 19:10, Ross Singer wrote:
<snip>
> On May 25, 2012, at 1:06 PM, James Weinheimer wrote:
>> Of course, this entire matter becomes exponentially more chaotic when
>> and if we enter the world of "linked data" (heavenly chorus).
> How?
</snip>
Because when everything can be linked and mashed up into new creations,
information may lose its original purpose and shape, just as the records
in Worldcat can now have links to Amazon, and they don't have to be just
links, but the amazon record could actually be merged with the records
in Worldcat. In the greater world of linked data, the records can be
mashed up to include ads from everywhere, and who knows what else they
will come up with to sell their products?
Of course, companies will use every opportunity they possibly have to
sell their goods--to believe anything else is naive.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/24/world/europe/debt-ridden-greece-turns-to-sacred-sites-for-cash.html
I am not saying there is anything necessarily wrong with this, but I
believe the library is special since there are ethical considerations,
e.g. from http://www.ala.org/advocacy/proethics/codeofethics/codeethics
* We provide the highest level of service to all library users through
appropriate and usefully organized resources; equitable service
policies; equitable access; and accurate, unbiased, and courteous
responses to all requests.
* We uphold the principles of intellectual freedom and resist all
efforts to censor library resources.
* We protect each library user's right to privacy and confidentiality
with respect to information sought or received and resources
consulted, borrowed, acquired or transmitted.
* We do not advance private interests at the expense of library users,
colleagues, or our employing institutions.
* We distinguish between our personal convictions and professional
duties and do not allow our personal beliefs to interfere with fair
representation of the aims of our institutions or the provision of
access to their information resources.
These statements are not shared by all entities going into the linked
data universe. Perhaps the tools will have to change but it does seem
fair to discuss it.
--
*James Weinheimer* weinheimer.jim.l_at_gmail.com
*First Thus* http://catalogingmatters.blogspot.com/
*Cooperative Cataloging Rules*
http://sites.google.com/site/opencatalogingrules/
*Cataloging Matters Podcasts*
http://blog.jweinheimer.net/p/cataloging-matters-podcasts.html
Received on Fri May 25 2012 - 18:01:18 EDT