Timothy W. Cole
Professor, Mathematics Librarian and CIRSS Coordinator for Library Applications
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Myung-Ja K. Han
Associate Professor and Metadata Librarian
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Carl G. Stahmer
Director of Digital Scholarship
University of California, Davis
MacKenzie Smith
University Librarian
University of California, Davis
This session introduces approaches for converting legacy library cataloging and metadata (for both general and digital special collections) and transforming traditional workflows and data flows in order to support linked data. Presenters share insights about challenges and solutions learned from analyzing a large-scale general collection and two small-scale special collection scenarios.
In mid December 2016 the ILS Supported BIBFLOW project will release its roadmap for conversion of library operations to a linked data ecosystem. The roadmap will provide: 1) a comprehensive assessment of the current transitional readiness of libraries and supporting vendor organization; 2) an assessment of the impact on and potential workflow and operational benefits of conversion; and 3) a detailed plan for phased conversion to native linked data operations—taking into account the complex data flows that drive library operations. The proposed presentation will introduce the roadmap, providing a high altitude view of the overall recommendations and drilling down on key nodes in the recommended conversion process.
Digitized special collections can support complex connective research and new ways of contextualizing physically dispersed primary sources. But simply making single-institution special collection content Web-accessible in isolation rarely achieves desired ends. With support from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, Exploring the Benefits of LOD for Special Collections is examining the challenges and rewards of using linked data to enhance discoverability and connectedness of three Illinois digitized special collections. Another Illinois project, Emblematica Online is looking at similar issues for a multi-institutional virtual collection of Early Modern emblem books. Presenters will describe experiences transforming legacy, non-MARC metadata into Linked Open Data (LOD); integrating LOD-compatible controlled vocabularies and services into portal design, back-end workflows and front-end user interfaces. Results to date show promise and suggest that key is a commitment to collaborate with domain scholars and to engage scholars in ongoing, active curation (e.g., through annotation).
http://publish.illinois.edu/linkedspcollections/
http://imagesearch-test1.library.illinois.edu/cdm/landingpage/collection/test-motley
http://emblematica.library.illinois.edu/
https://www.library.ucdavis.edu/bibflow/