Roy Tennant in Getting Started With Linked Data explains that the change caused by linked data for libraries and librarians will go unnoticed because these changes are swept up into the automated systems being used. He goes further to say that the basics of linked data are rather simple; the relationship between terms, or the information of those terms have to be encoded. He gives the example of a 'triple' using 'William Shakespeare -> is the author of -> Hamlet'. Each part is given a URL that links to machine description for it, also leading to other data stores. OCLC has worked with this concept in WorldCat to establish 'machine-understandable relationships'. It opens new doors on how the information is used and creating more exposure to web search engines. Tennant states that the potential of linked data in libraries will require a lot of changes; changing from one form of records (MARC) to another (BIBFRAME), and increased of different types of data services.
Nothing in libraries stay the same except one thing - access to resources. Linked data is just the newest step in providing people access to the resources that are available beyond the library's physical walls. I've used WorldCat quite a bit trying to find what is out there, and seeing it being used to develop new services is mind boggling. Another aspect of libraries that often goes unnoticed by people in general.
1 comment:
Good work! Keep your eye on OCLC and Tennant ... they'll be leading the charge to linked data (along with the LoC). Let's improve access! :-)
Dr. MacCall
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