Presentation for the OCLC Linked Data Roundtable event for IFLA Helsinki 2012. Covers the reasoning behind the BL's linked open data version of the British National Bibliography, the processes needed to create the service and challenges to be addressed.

1. Making The Connection
Linked Open Data at the British Library
Neil Wilson
Head, Metadata Services
neil.wilson@bl.uk

2. British Library
Metadata Services
The BL has a long history of
supplying metadata to:
 Increase visibility of BL
holdings & connect users to content
 Contribute to collaborative
cataloguing initiatives
 Support free and priced
bibliographic services
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3. Changing Environment
 The Web - fostered expectation
information should be open to all
 Data has new value - from
open technologies enabling rapid
connection & reuse
 ‘Open + Data’ drives strategies
for :
 Transparency
 Economic growth
 Research & discovery

4. Changing Environment
Public Sector Open Data Rating
★ Available on Web + open
licence
★★ + machine-readable
★★★ + non-proprietary format
★★★★ + W3C open standards
★★★★★ + link to others data

5. Linked Data
Potential Benefits for Libraries
 Improved web
integration of resources -
increasing visibility & reaching
new users
 A global pool of
reusable data - for libraries
to add unique value
 New library leadership
opportunities - due to
persistence, stability & authority
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6. Changing Environment
Library Data
Users were once lone
scholars but now include:
 Collaborative Learners
 Data miners
 Machines
Libraries must respond to:
 Stimulate innovation
 Enable knowledge creation
 Increase relevance & utility

7. British Library Open Metadata Strategy
Aims
 Migrate - from library
formats to cross domain
standards
 Collaborate - with
community on new services
advancing debate from theory
to practice
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8. British Library Open Metadata Strategy
Aims
 Remove barriers - enabling
innovation without unnecessary
restrictions
 Achieve recognition -
while using licensing appropriate
for widest re-use
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9. Open Service Objectives
Target services for:
 Traditional libraries
(MARC21/Z39.50)
 Researchers - using new
metadata processing
techniques (RDF/XML)
 Linked data developers
(RDF Triples/SPARQL)
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10. Linked Open Data
Preliminaries
To concentrate effort on our
data we identified:
 The best licensing
option for our
objectives (CC0)
 A proven hosting
platform
 External sources of
expert comment
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11. Linked Open Data
Objectives
A staff & organisational
development opportunity using:
 In-house staff
 Existing tools & technologies
 Library MARC21 data
 Established linked data
resources
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12. Linked Open Data
Why BNB?
 General bibliography - not a
unique institutional catalogue
 Consistent format - over 60
years
 Size & range of content - 3
million records on all subjects in
many languages
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13. Linked Open Data
Why BNB?
Underlined commitment
by offering:
 Large, popular dataset -
not niche sample
 Reusable metadata - not
unique resource
 Foundational service &
model - for others to build on
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14. Linked Open Data
MARC Migration
 Started simply - improving with
developing staff expertise
 Used expert training in:
 Linked data concepts
 RDF modelling
 Presentation options
 Used the opportunity to re-
evaluate & innovate - blending
the best of old & new
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15. Linked Open Data
Creating Links
Techniques:
 Automatic generation from
record data
 Auto text match with linked
data dumps
 Crosswalk matching for
coded data
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16. Linked Open Data
Linked Site Selection
To embed data in a wider
context we linked:
 General resources:
 GeoNames
 Lexvo
 RDF Book
Mashup
 Plus library resources:
 LCSH
 VIAF
 Dewey.info
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17. MARC21 to RDF XML Conversion Workflow
• • Selection
• Selection
Selection
• • Pre-processing
• Pre-processing
Pre-processing
• • Character conversion
• Character setset conversion
Character set conversion
• • URI generation
• URI generation
URI generation
• Datatransformation
Data transformation
• Create & load triples
MARC to RDF conversion
Consists of multiple automated steps
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18. Access Options
• thedatahub.org/dataset/bluk-bnb-basic
• thedatahub.org/dataset/bluk-bnb
BNB Books 1950-2012
2.8 Million Records
85 Million Unique Triples
.
• bnb.data.bl.uk/sparql
• bnb.data.bl.uk/describe
• bnb.data.bl.uk/search
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19. Linked Open Data
A Change in Perspective
 From self contained records for resources
 To linking triple statements about resources
 With ‘records’ assembled from statements
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20. Linked Open Data
Achievements
 Presence & visibility
 New library data model -
being utilised by wider groups
 New opportunities for
collaboration - with public &
private sector organisations
 Confirmation that valuable
data will be used – e.g. up to 8
million monthly transactions
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21. Linked Open Data
Challenges
How to:
 Capture service value & gain
attribution for effort
 Ensure expectations are Free
met - both Government & wider Offering
community
 License derived 3rd party
data - to support open re-supply
 Ensure effective service
maintenance - & persistence
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22. Library Linked Data Wish List?
We Need More…
 Tools to link library data to
other resources
 LMS integration of linked
data options
 Navigation & visualisation
applications
 Feedback on usage
 Collaboration on shared
approaches
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23. Linked Open BNB
http://www.bl.uk/bibliographic/datafree.html
Next Steps:
 Regular updates
 More documentation &
refinement of model
 Extend to cover further
material & linked
resources
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