When URIs become authority: Benefits and challenges of library Linked Data

Midwinter 2013 - Kevin Ford to Speak on the topic
"When URIs become authority: Benefits and challenges of library Linked Data"
by Christopher Case on Wed, Jan 9, 2013 at 11:18 am

Tags: Presentation2013
When: Monday, January 28, 2013
1:00pm to 2:00pm, US/Pacific (-8)

Abstract
The Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH) file has been available as linked data since 2009 from the Library of Congress’s (LC) Linked Data Service, ID.LOC.GOV. The publication of LCSH as linked data (and subsequent datasets, such as the LC/NACO Name file) has provided LC with invaluable experience implementing and using linked data in a library environment. The knowledge gained from this activity is especially beneficial in light of LC’s Bibliographic Framework Initiative, which strives to re-imagine the bibliographic ecosystem with an eye to embracing Linked Data methods and practices. Moving toward a Linked Data approach to managing library data results in a number of benefits, but such changes also reveal a few significant issues that require, minimally, thoughtful solutions and some issues that, maximally, potentially upend our thinking. For example, in the realm of Linked Data, where the a unique identifier is a type of authoritative collocation point, LCSH, in particular, poses a number of problems largely because pre-coordination enables an infinite system of subject headings. Although the benefits of moving toward a more Linked Data approach to library data management will be enumerated, this presentation will focus on the issues revealed by such a move. Given the audience, but also the importance of LCSH to libraries, special attention will be paid to LCSH, though other well-known datasets will also be discussed. In some cases, the challenges may be technologically addressable, but other solutions point to policy amendments and changes to current practice and thinking. As LC is very actively exploring a new Bibliographic Framework that embraces Linked Data principles and methods, this is a particularly opportune moment to be exploring issues surrounding the representation of library authority data as Linked Data.

Biography:
Kevin Ford works in the Network Development and MARC Standards Office (NDMSO) at the Library of Congress where he is the current project manager for the Library of Congress's Linked Data Service, http://id.loc.gov. Among many other authority files and value lists, LC’s Linked Data Service publishes the LC/NACO Name Authority File; LC Subject Headings; LC Classification; Thesaurus of Graphic Materials; and a number of MARC lists and ISO languages. He spends a significant amount of time modeling traditional library data in RDF for publication at ID and consulting within the Library on other vocabulary-related issues. Kevin also belongs to the six-member internal LC group shepherding the Library’s Bibliographic Framework Initiative, which will ultimately replace the MARC Communication Formats. Kevin regularly follows Linked Data and Semantic Web developments for LC; he participated in the W3C's Library Linked Data Incubator Group.

assignFAST: A New Prototype Service for Efficient FAST Subject Assignment using Autosuggest

관련 OCLC 공지: http://www.oclc.org/research/news/2012/10-23.html

FAST 개발도 계속하는가보다.
More Information

assignFAST Activity Page
assignFAST demo
assignFAST Web Service
FAST (Faceted Application of Subject Terminology)
OpenSocial(gadget)

이제 FAST도 더욱 본격적으로 봐야겠다.

[Dissertation]A Study on Developing a Faceted Classification Scheme Integrated with a Thesaurus for Literature

Yonsei University, Dept. of Library and Information Science
Dissertation “A Study on Developing a Faceted Classification Scheme Integrated with a Thesaurus for Literature”
Adviser Taesoo Kim [Link]

ABSTARCT
The purpose of this study is to develop a faceted classification scheme with a thesaurus (FCT) to more effectively organize documents by subject matter than a legacy classification scheme, namely, the Korean Decimal Classification (KDC). For achieving this purpose, the requirements of the new scheme are as follows:

1) improving the subject representation power of a classification scheme to effectively represent multidimensional subjects, such as compound and complex subjects
2) representing the characteristics of division applied to the classification scheme
3) specifying the conceptual level of the classification scheme to be suitable for various information resources

In Facet analysis, knowledge structure is analyzed into a multidimensional aspect called a “facet” that provided a device to represent subjects in a logical and detailed method through a facet and phase relation. Furthermore, by linking a thesaurus to the classification scheme, it was possible to share facets and expand the conceptual level of headings through the thesaurus descriptors.

The KDC is selected as the base scheme for developing the FCT and the National Library Subject Headings (NLSH) is used for the linked thesaurus. The scope of the classification scheme is literature because that particular field of study was suitable for applying the facet analysis and link with a thesaurus, but it is not properly treated in the enumerative classification scheme, KDC. Mixed notation is used instead of pure notation to improve the representative power of the classification number for the arrangement and display of the information materials, as well as expanding the search terms during information retrieval.

As a result, the FCT includes a classification rule, facets, a chain index, and a linked thesaurus. The classification rule provides usage of notation system for representing the comprehensive structure of the FCT and subject relations. In addition, six facets, including discipline, language, place, period, person, and form facet, were derived for literature classification and each facet has its own facet indicator and symbol. The features of the new classification scheme are as follows:

1) It is possible to represent compound subjects more clearly through facet relation and to represent complex subjects that can not be expressed in the KDC through phase relation.
2) It is possible to change citation order and transform the structure of a classification scheme or browsing method, unlike the rigidly structured hierarchy in the KDC.
3) It is possible to synthesize the class number without determining the main class because disciplines are treated as a facet (not a basic class), and it is simple to add new classification numbers to the FCT.
4) Mnemonics is improved using facet indicator, facet symbol, relation indicator separately unlike KDC that has no indicator except ‘0’.
5) It is possible to treat an ambiguous subject that is difficult to handle as a facet or phase relation by using subject device.
6) The chain index and thesaurus descriptors linked with facets are provided instead of the relative index in the KDC.

The FCT is limited in that it is developed only for the field of literature and has a complicated notational system. However, the basic framework, such as facet analysis, thesaurus linking, and classification rules, can be applied to other areas, too. Additionally, although the notational system can initially be considered a bit complicated, its representational power is more important than simplicity because this is a criterion for the intellectual and physical arrangement and relative position of the materials. Furthermore, users recognize the subjects of documents through the terms, not the notation, and use a document subject itself, rather than the number, in the search results.

In the future, the proposed classification scheme needs to be applied to additional areas of study and modified according to the results. A follow-up action for developing the classification scheme management system is also desirable.

Key Words : classification scheme, Colon Classification(CC), facet analysis, facet relationship, Korean Decimal Classification(KDC), National Library Subject Headings(NLSH), phase relationship, subject headings, thesaurus