Linked Data, DOI, RDF, and Dublin Core

By Melody Smith | September 20, 2010 |

On a quest to reach the holy grail of the Semantic Web.

What started as a straightforward and elegant model by Eric Miller as the Resource Description Framework (RDF) has become incredibly complicated. When I first came upon this model, in the early days of the Dublin Core standard discussions, it was a framework. That is, it was a self describing way to transmit an XML file. The RDF formed a wrapper around the XML by including the XML Schema (DTD) so that whoever received the file would know what the elements, attributes, allowed ranges, etc. were, and be able to use the data included without further hunting for file descriptions, translations of the fields (elements), how they related, etc. RDF has grown up and become embroiled in discussions of triples, Subject-Object-Predicate discussions, and its use as the basis for linked data and even the basis for the final real implementation of the Semantic Web.

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Using a ‘Collabulary’ to Create a Taxonomy

By Melody Smith | September 13, 2010

Libraries and librarians have been the gatekeepers to knowledge stores for more than 200 years. As their collections grew, they invented ways to easily find the information and knowledge they stored by creating classification systems and then subject headings to identify the concepts or topics represented in the items being stored. Every major language now has at least one classification system, and most countries have created and adopted classification and subject access systems, such as the Universal Decimal System (UDC) or Lenin’s outline of knowledge for Russia. In the United States, the use of the Dewey Decimal Classification system, Sears Subject Headings, and the Library of Congress Classification system is widespread.

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Social Reprieve

By Melody Smith | August 25, 2010

In this day and age of social media infiltrating every area of our lives, for good or bad, there is one area that has resisted this trend – books. Perhaps the last refuge from social media, many go to find shelter from the friending and tweeting in their comforting pages and worn binding. Unfortunately, this once solitary refuge is looking to join the social realm as companies like Copia and BookGlutton look to jump on board.

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Data Alignment: Good Data Means Better Business

By admin | June 7, 2010

June 7, 2010 – In a client meeting last week, we heard, “I needed to retrieve the Wilson proposal but I had to wade through two screens of results before I could locate the document I wanted.” We took a quick look and saw that the document creator had assigned uncontrolled free text index terms.…

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