Linked data technologies and what libraries have accomplished so far

Abstract

For the past ten years libraries have been working diligently towards Linked Data and the Semantic Web. Due to the complexity and vast scope of Linked Data, many people have a hard time to understand its technical details and its potential for the library community. This paper aims to help librarians better understand some important concepts by explaining the basic Linked Data technologies that consist of Resource Description Framework (RDF), the ontology, and the query language. It also includes an overview of the achievements by libraries around the world in their efforts to turn library data into Linked Data including those by Library of Congress, OCLC, and some other national libraries. Some of the challenges and setbacks that libraries have encountered are analyzed and discussed. In spite of the difficulties, there is no way to turn back. Libraries will have to succeed.