Semantic Web technologies for digital libraries
| Published date | 01 May 2005 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/01435120510596044 |
| Pages | 190-195 |
| Date | 01 May 2005 |
| Author | York Sure,Rudi Studer |
| Subject Matter | Library & information science |
Semantic Web technologies for
digital libraries
York Sure and Rudi Studer
Institute AIFB, University of Karlsruhe, Karlsruhe, Germany
Abstract
Purpose – The purpose of this article is to provide an overview about the Semantic Web, its
importance and history and an overview of recent Semantic Web technologies which can be used to
enhance digital libraries.
Design/methodology/approach – The paper answers, at least partially, questions like “What is
the Semantic Web?”, “How could the Semantic Web look like?”, “Why is the Semantic Web
important?”, “What are ontologies?” and “Where are we now?”. Several pointers to further literature
and web sites complete the overview.
Findings – Semantic Web technologies are valuable add-ons for digital libraries. There already exist
numerous academic and commercial tools which can be applied right now.
Practical limitations/implications – The overview of Semantic Web technologies cannot be
complete in such an article, therefore we limit ourselves to the most prominent technologies available.
However, following the pointers given readers can easily find more information.
Originality/value – The article is of particular value for newcomers in this area.
Keywords Internet, Digitallibraries, Generation and dissemination of information
Paper type General review
What is the Semantic Web?
Berners-Lee et al. (2001) describe the Semantic Web as: “...an extension of the current
web in which information is given well-defined meaning, better enabling computers
and people to work in cooperation”. The key enabler of the Semantic Web is the need of
many communities to put machine-understandable data on the web which can be
shared and processed by automated tools as well as by people. Machines should not
just be able to display data, but rather be able to use it for automation, integration and
reuse across various applications.
The European Commission is funding numerous projects related to ontologies and
the Semantic Web in its currently running Sixth Framework Research Programme, e.g.
“Semantically Enabled Knowledge Technologies” (the SEKT project[1]). The
worldwide Semantic Web community is growing rather fast and forces are being
joined with other technology developments such as web services or multimedia. Last,
but not least, vendors are already offering mature products and solutions based on
semantic technologies. Thus, the Semantic Web is currently moving from being a
vision to becoming reality.
How could the Semantic Web look like?
Even worse: “How would you explain the Semantic Web to your grandparents?”
Answering this question is one of the challenges for participants of the Semantic Web
Challenge[2]. It might be questionable whether grandparents would understand the
aim of, for example, the winning application in 2003, namely that it “combines
information from multiple heterogeneous sources, such as published RDF sources,
The Emerald Research Register for this journal is available at The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at
www.emeraldinsight.com/researchregister www.emeraldinsight.com/0143-5124.htm
LM
26,4/5
190
Library Management
Vol. 26 No. 4/5, 2005
pp. 190-195
qEmerald Group Publishing Limited
0143-5124
DOI 10.1108/01435120510596044
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