Slides from my workshop at AALL.

1. Hands on Linked Data Tools For
Catalogers: MarcEdit and MARCNext

3. BIBFRAME = Internet of Things
• BIBFRAME is the model, but the devil is in the details
• Reconciliation with legacy data
• Different flavors of the model (kind of like different flavors of MARC, but
not really)
• How do make our data semantic web friendly
• How do we build links (down with strings!)
• What services do we trust and are these services available yet
• How do we experiment to start learning what works and what doesn’t

4. Where do you start?
• If you are a developer?
• The current toolset is built for you. LC’s tools, SPARQL, system APIs –
as a developer, the raw components that you need to start pulling
together toolsets for experimentation can be found if you look for them.
• If you are a cataloger?
• Find a developer, or start writing scripts yourself…
• Today, very few resources are being developed for practitioners.
Zepheira has a training set and is sponsoring LibHub, LC’s BIBFRAME
site provides examples of data in context, and there is MarcEdit.

5. http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-
images/Guardian/About/General/2010/10/20/1287571854392/Homer-Simpson-006.jpg

8. http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_N1npI6e3LGQ/TDAoKFVaj9I/AAAAAAAADAE/t
vmGlpoKKqQ/s1600/Matt-Smith-Doctor-Who-Tardis.gif

9. Linked Data Tools in MarcEdit
• MARCNext
• The MARCNext toolset represents an effort to beginning creating a set of tools
that can integrate into existing workflows for Libraries and Catalogers interested
in testing or implementing linked data concepts within their bibliography
environments today.
• Zepheira Training BIBFRAME Transform
• This is a custom plugin that interacts directly with the Zepheira training system. The
plugin is limited to 100 record uploads at a time – but users can utilize the tool to see
how Zepheira is modelling data within the LibHub initiative and allow catalogers an
opportunity to see how different implementers are utilizing the BIBFRAME model.

10. MarcEdit’s MARCNext Toolset

11. MarcEdit’s MARCNext Toolset
• Main motivations for making this available
• Exposes a part of a larger framework presently within MarcEdit to support my
research interests in emerging metadata models and linked data concepts in
general.
• To place tools in the hands of catalogers; who are largely pushed to sidelines
when thinking about issues like BIBFRAME and Linked Data
• Lower the barriers for those interested in experimenting with their own data

12. MarcEdit’s MARCNext Toolset
• BIBFRAME Testbed: a tool utilizing LC’s XQuery transformations to allow users the
ability to visualize their own metadata within various BIBFRAME serializations.
• JSON Object View: a tool allowing users to open a JSON file and visualize the
relationships between objects.
• Link Identifiers: a tool that catalogers can use now to embed URIs into the $0 of
controlled terms
• SPARQL Browser: A Spartan interface for users wanting to test SPARQL endpoints

13. BIBFRAME Testbed:
• Utilizes LC Model, so output
will reflect those assumptions
• Facilitates transformation from
other metadata formats
• Access to multiple
serializations

14. BIBFRAME Testbed:

15. Link Data Tool
• The Last Mile Problem: To take advantage of metadata models designed for the
web, someone will need to “link” the data.
• EZ-Entification: Takes advantage of the current MARC structure to embed $0’s
into the 1xx, 6xx, and 7xx fields.
• Process supports the generation of links to a wide range of authority sources.
• Presently:
• VIAF
• ID.LOC.GOV
• FAST
• MESH
• Embedding OCLC Work ID’s into records

16. Link Data Tool
• How it works
• In March 2015, I formalized support for linked data resources and created the
melinked_data.dll assembly. This assembly is the engine that drives MarcEdit’s Linked
Data work.
• Within the assembly is a resolution framework, designed to enable plug & play
networks for eventual user definition of new linked data services.
• Framework has been designed to support SPARQL, JSONLD, and OpenSearch
(with Atom or RSS responses)
• As part of the tool, the resolution algorithm has multiple validation layers, with
basic data normalization to ensure optimal communication with the current linking
services.

17. Link Data Tool
• So what get’s Linked?
• Tool is looking for specific values
• VIAF and LCNAF linking occurs on 1xx and 7xx data elements
• Subject Linking occurs on all 6xx fields
• Linking services are automatically evaluated and processed by utilizing data
found within the second indicator and the $2.
• When working with known services, the tool will evaluate any data found in
the $0 and if a URI isn’t present, will update the value appropriately

18. Link Data Tool
• Creating Actionable Data
• $0 defined as: Authority record control number or standard number (R)
• Linked Data Tool ignores this utilizing URIs (and will actively convert control
numbers to URIs)
Example:
=650 7$aMedical policy.$2fast$0(OCoLC)fst01014505
• Converted to:
=650 7$aMedical policy.$2fast$0http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1014505

19. Link Data Tool
• Challenges
• Are the Linking Services ready?
• Honestly, many of these services are still evolving. Will a VIAF identify
continue to make the most sense when linking to OCLC person data, or will
the Person Identifiers that they talked about at ALA be more appropriate?
• Id.loc.gov doesn’t handle redirects well through the API – there is (or was
last time I tested) a disconnect between terms that have been replaced.

20. Link Data Tool
• Challenges
• Linking will also be local – and how will those services be implemented. I’m
hoping SPARQL, but my experience has been all over the map.
• Where is OCLC in all of this. They are working hard on their own internal data
streams, but its actually groups like Zepheira, BibFlow, and LD4P that are actively
engaging catalogers.
.

21. SPARLQ Browser
• Provides an interface
for querying SPARQL
Endpoints
• Allows users the
opportunity to view data
using multiple
serializations
• Link Data tool utilizes
SPARQL when building
URIs to SPARQL enabled
hosts

22. Zepheira Training BIBFRAME Transform
• Over the past year, I’ve provided a plug-in at request to LibHub
participants looking to integrate Zepheira testing into their general
workflows. It has been a private plugin limited to LibHub participants at
Zepheira’s request.
• But…before coming to AALL, Eric Miller let me know that we can open
this up. The plugin is throttled (100 records max upload at a time), but
users can now utilize the plugin to visual and explore how data is being
created and utilized within the Zepheira BIBFRAME model.

23. Zepheira Training BIBFRAME Transform
• Plugin available via the
MarcEdit Plugin Manager.

24. Zepheira Training BIBFRAME Transform

25. Zepheira Training BIBFRAME Transform

26. Contact Me:
Terry Reese
Head of Digital Initiatives
University Libraries 175 West 18th Avenue
320F 18th Avenue Library,, Columbus, OH 43210
614-292-8263 Office / 614-407-4998 Mobile
reese.2179@osu.edu / http://library.osu.edu / http://reeset.net