Preparing Catalogers for Linked data

Terry Reese
reese.2179@osu.edu
http://marcedit.reeset.net
Preparing catalogers' for Linked
data Using MarcEdit: what can
we do now?

 It seems like the profession has been talking about linked
data and linked data in library for a long-time
 And they have
 There are wild promises
 Linked Data will solve our data problems
 Linked Data will make cataloging easier
 Linked Data will stop climate change and bring back the
dinosaurs
 (That’s how they grew dinosaurs in Jurassic Park)
Why Linked Data

Objects not strings
 Probably the biggest reason people talk about linked
data is the notion of moving from strings to objects
Strings

Objects not strings
 Probably the biggest reason people talk about linked
data is the notion of moving from strings to objects
Objects

 URIs provide actionable data
 Controlled terms can be updated without user intervention
(generally)
 And URIs can provide access to more information
 I.E. – a URI to VIAF provides access not just to author information, but to all
their related works and collaborators as well.
Objects Not Strings

 Currently – there is *no* supported method for embedding
linked data elements into MARC21 Records
 OCLC actively discourages users from embedding URIs
and Linked Data elements into current bibliographic
records (http://www.oclc.org/bibformats/en/6xx/650.html)
 Of course, this isn’t stopping them from embedding their own
data related to FAST into records
Best Practices

 But hope is not lost…
 PCC has created the URIs in MARC Task Group
 Charge: http://www.loc.gov/aba/pcc/documents/URIs-MARC-
taskgroup.docx
 This group is currently made up of PCC members, as well as consultants
(like myself) to discuss how linked data elements could or should be made
available within MARC data.
 And give current practice, how do we ensure that existing data (which is
linked data like, but not actionable) can be taken forward.
Best Practices

 Great Question!
 We aren’t ready
So why aren’t we doing this already?

 Changing Strings to Objects is hard and expensive
 Most Controlled vocabularies used in the Libraries are not
available for consumption by linked data tools
 And those that are aren’t production ready
 Or – are proprietary
So why aren’t we doing this already?

 We can experiment
 We can start looking for ways to leverage data that is
being made available.
So what can we do right now?

 Over the past year, I’ve added to MarcEdit a linked data
framework
 Designed to support RDF, JSON-LD, SPARQL – and a wide range
of library specific services currently providing one off access to
controlled data
 The framework has been utilized in MarcEdit for the development
of a toolset called MARCNext
MarcEdit and Linked Data

 These are Experimental services that allow catalogers to
play with their data and visualize it through the BibFrame
lens – as well as begin the process of turning strings to
objects.
MARCNext

 So yes, its all fine and good to provide experimental work –
but does this help me now?
 Well until the PCC and MARBI provide guidance related to URI
generation and insertion – this is really something up to local
practice.
But who cares?

We can build new services
 Using Linked Data tools for
Heading Validation

 How it works
 Working directly with the U.S. Library of Congress – MarcEdit
queries the NACO and SACO headings directly
 Returning information about URIs and variants/changes
 MarcEdit then generates a report, automatically corrects
headings (when possible) and can generate brief authority
records if desired.
Validate Headings

 At every major ILS user conference this year, there was a
commitment made to support BibFrame
 What does that mean – who knows
 But what we do know, is that it means ILS vendors are looking at
how they can leverage linked data concepts within their systems
 The PCC is committed to providing guidance around
embedding linked data in library data by Summer ALA
 OCLC’s WMS platform is being developed and positioned
as a potential linked data service point
 i.e. – OCLC Works, OCLC Persons, etc.
Looking to the Future

Preparing Catalogers for Linked data

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