Connecting the silos. Implementations and perceptions of linked data across European libraries
| Pages | 643-666 |
| Date | 13 May 2019 |
| Published date | 13 May 2019 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JD-07-2018-0117 |
| Author | Diane Rasmussen Pennington,Laura Cagnazzo |
| Subject Matter | Library & information science |
Connecting the silos
Implementations and perceptions of linked
data across European libraries
Diane Rasmussen Pennington and Laura Cagnazzo
Department of Computer and Information Sciences, University of Strathclyde,
Glasgow, UK
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this paper is to determine how information professionals in Scotland and in
European national libraries perceive linked data (LD) as well as if and how they are implementing it.
Design/methodology/approach –The authors applied four dat a collection techniqu es: a literature
review, semi-structu red interviews (n¼15), online resources analysis (n¼26) and an online survey
(n¼113). They used constant comparative analysis to identify perceived benefits and challenges of LD
implementation, reasons behind adoption or non-adoption of LD and the issues hindering its
implementation in libra ries.
Findings –Some projects demonstrate LD’s potential to augment the visibility and discoverability of library
data, alongside with overcoming linguistic barriers, and supporting interoperability. However, a strong need
remains to demonstrate the Semantic Web’s potential within libraries. Participants identified lack of expertise
and lack of resources/time/staff as implementation barriers. Several other issues remain unsolved, such as
licensing constraints, as well as difficulties with obtaining management buy-in for LD initiatives, even where
open data are government-mandated.
Practical implications –Information professionals and vendors should collaborate to develop tools for
implementation. Advocacy through disseminating and reviewing successful implementations can help to
solve practical difficulties and to obtain management buy-in.
Originality/value –This is the first known study to present a multinational, comprehensive picture of
library LD implementations and associated librarians’perceptions of LD.
Keywords Linked open data, Semantic Web, Europe, W3C, Linked data, Cultural heritage,
Metadata standards, Library data, Scottish libraries, National libraries
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
The digital realm evolves consistently, presenting information professionals with the need
to update their professional skills constantly. Web 3.0 is no exception. In 2001, Sir Tim
Berners-Lee introduced an extension to the World Wide Web called the Semantic Web
(SW) which would enable relationships not only between documents, but also amongst the
elements (data) within documents. Also known as Web 3.0 or the Web of Data
(Tallerås, 2013; van Hoolan and Verborgh, 2014), linked data (LD) is the accepted means to
enable the SW (Bizer et al., 2009). The goal is to provide a seamless “web of trust”where
anyone can make contributions (Library of Congress, 2012a). This requires
communicating the content in a format “understandable”by computers, so they can
automatically build relationships between resources to enrich user experience and
improve discoverability (Rasmussen Pennington, 2016).
The trend towards opening data is spreading across sectors, including government,
industry and cultural institutions (Shiri and Davoodi, 2016), with different benefits for each
environment. For libraries and cultural institutions, it provides improved information
services. For industry, automatic data provides commercial benefits. For research, it reduces
work duplication and therefore supports societal progress. For government, it provides
transparency and benefits the country’s economic potential (Stuart, 2011). Open government
data have become a worldwide trend, with increasing resources invested in making it
available to the public (Zhao and Fan, 2018). Despite this trend, most governmental agencies
Journal of Documentation
Vol. 75 No. 3, 2019
pp. 643-666
© Emerald PublishingLimited
0022-0418
DOI 10.1108/JD-07-2018-0117
Received 22 July 2018
Revised 28 November 2018
Accepted 2 December 2018
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:
www.emeraldinsight.com/0022-0418.htm
643
Implementations
and perceptions
of linked data
are facing severe obstacles in implementing LD, even when government policies require
open government data publication, such as in Scotland (Scottish Government, 2015).
Within libraries and cultural institutions, Linked Open Data (LOD) allows cultural
heritage objects to enter the Web of Data, but it requires transforming traditional metadata
techniques in order to open collections to a wider audience ( Jones and Seikel, 2016).
Although LD’s potential is recognised in this sector, professionals are uncertain about its
benefits, and implementation faces several challenges.
This paper presents the status of LD adoption in European libraries through the convergence
of two related studies: implementation across European national libraries (Cagnazzo, 2017) and
awareness and use among Scottish libraries (Rasmussen Pennington, 2017). Based on these
results, it makes recommendations for improving best practices in library LD implementation
and suggests future research. This is the first known study to present a multinational
comprehensive picture of library LD implementations and associated librarians’perceptions.
Implementing the recommendations in this paper could change the direction of librarianship.
Whilst the nationallibrary study offers a broader view, the latterprovides a targeted lens
on one country. The choice for analysing European national libraries stemmed from the
consideration of their role in preserving and widening access to all knowledge published
within their own countries (Jøsevold, 2016). The specific mandate of national libraries varies
among countries depending on size, history, development status and culture (Wainwright,
1993). That said, national libraries are ultimately responsible for related to “building,
preserving and enabling access to collections at a national level, and providing relevant
services throughout a nation”(Breeding, 2011,p. 21). Furthermore, national libraries can lead
the development of technological standards for record formats, data exchange and
interoperability protocols,since they are usually situatedunder the government and therefore
well-positioned for informing national policy (Hagerlid, 2011). Increasing interoperability
within Europe is essential given the geographic and political intertwining of its nations.
Evaluating Scotland as one nation residing within the European context allowed the authors
to consider how and whether the country has the ability to effectivelyshare resources among
its own libraries.As a country rich in historically importantcultural heritage, it shouldbe able
to share resources among its institutions. Historical and governmental data belongs to
Scotland’s citizens and are of interest worldwide; for these reasons, broadening access,
findability and discoverability is essential (Ruthven and Chowdhury, 2015).
SW and LD
The SW was introducedto bring meaning and logic to the existingWWW (Berners-Lee et al.,
2001; Bakeret al., 2011). The first and most importantstep towards its realisationis to publish
data online in a machine-readable format( Berners-Lee, 2000). As previously mentioned,if SW
is the goal, LD is the tool to achieve it (Bizer et al., 2009). Several ways of describing the LD
concept have been suggested. Berners-Lee, defined LD as “the Semantic Web done right”
(Berners-Lee, 2008). According to Bizer et al. (2009), “LD”indicates a set of best practises for
publishing and connecting structured data on the web (Bizer et al., 2009). LD shoul d be
interpreted as a continuously evolving set of best practices for the publication of structured
data on the web rather than a specific technology (Van Hoolan and Verborgh, 2014).
Heath (2009) definesLD as “a means to dismantle data silos”. Shiriand Davoodi (2016, p. 65)
define LD as a “set of standards, data publishingmodels and methods that bring consistency,
interoperability and shareability to unorganized and unidentifiable data on the web”.
Berners-Lee (2006) outlined the key requirements for LD to be classified as such in his
“Linked Data Principles”:
•use uniform resource identifiers (URIs) as names for things;
•use HTTP URIs so that people can look up those names;
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