Karen Coyle recently commented on the growing number of RDF and linked data projects in the field of library data. Coyle writes, “With the newly developed enthusiasm for RDF as the basis for library bibliographic data we are seeing a number of efforts to transform library data into this modern, web-friendly format. This is a positive development in many ways, but we need to be careful to make this transition cleanly without bringing along baggage from our past. Recent efforts have focused on translating library record formats into RDF with the result that we now have: ISBD in RDF, FRBR in RDF, [and] RDA in RDF, and will soon have MODS in RDF.” Read more

SemTechBiz is Less Than 3 Weeks Away

The Semantic Tech & Business Conference (SemTechBiz) is coming to San Francisco on June 3-7! Join us for case studies, innovative panels, tutorials, and keynotes that will provide you with practical advice, hands-on guidance, and breakthrough approaches to solving business problems with semantic technology. Passes go up $200 at the door. Sign up now and save !

Karen Coyle, an authority on linked data in libraries whom we have recently reported on, shared her thoughts on visualizing linked data: “One of the questions I always get when talking about the Semantic Web is ‘What does it look like?’ This is kind of like asking what electricity looks like: it doesn’t so much look like anything, as it makes certain things possible. But I fully understand that people need to see something for this all to make sense, so when the webinar technology allows it I have started showing some web pages. When it doesn’t, I send people to links they can explore on their own. Since some of you may have this same question, here are a few illustrations using two sites that can present authors in a Semantic Web form.” Read more

On Tuesday, March 15, Karen Coyle will be leading a webinar on Linked Data, Tools and Technologies. According to the description, “This webinar will describe some of the basic data and software standards, as well as demonstrate implementations such as existing registries and vocabularies. Some of the issues for discussion will be data and vocabulary maintenance, the question of data provenance, and techniques for metadata extension.” Coyle was recently honored by the Association for Library Collections & Technical Services for her paper, “Understanding the Semantic Web: Bibliographic Data and Metadata.” Read more

Karen Coyle, a librarian and consultant in the field of digital libraries recently won the Outstanding Publication Award from the Association for Library Collections & Technical Services (ALCTS). Coyle’s winning paper is entitled “Understanding the Semantic Web: Bibliographic Data and Metadata.”

Coyle’s paper is “an insightful articulation about how library catalogs must transition to become part of the current information environment… In this thought-provoking and transformative publication, Coyle breaks new ground while still offering practical guidelines about how to achieve the goals set out for libraries to move the catalog into the Semantic Web and transform the role of library metadata in today’s Web driven world.” Read more