Core Linked Data Interest Group

Portraits of three Core members with caption Become a Member: Find Your Home: Core.

 

  • 1.  Newbies in the field

    Posted Jun 25, 2025 06:14 AM
    Hello, my name is Tomeka, and I am becoming increasingly interested in learning about Linked Data as the next step in my cataloging and metadata career as a librarian. I've noticed that more job postings are emerging for linked data librarians, and I would like to know if there are community groups or mailing lists where I can learn and get started, even with little to no programming experience.

    I believe that Linked Data represents the next evolution in libraries, cataloging, and metadata, especially as more libraries transition to platforms like FOLIO. Additionally, Alma is incorporating linked data elements, which I am currently engaging with in my position. 

    I'm reaching out to find community resources or mentors in this growing field. Thank you!


  • 2.  RE: Newbies in the field

    Posted Jun 25, 2025 01:16 PM

    Hi Tomeka:

    I heartily recommend connecting with the LD4 Wikidata Affinity Group.

    Wikidata is one of many linked data platforms, but it is one of the largest (or, according to a presenter at an LD4 WAG event yesterday, the "largest live knowledge graph" in the world), with ever-increasing visibility and usage in library workflows and datastores. The barriers to participation as a Wikidata editor are relatively low and people interested in learning about creating and using linked data resource descriptions can create an account and begin creating* and querying data right away. (*I encourage you to make use of a community-supported metadata application profile, perhaps one of those available here, if you will jump right into creating items.)

    I've experienced the LD4 Wikidata Affinity Group to be a very welcoming space for participants of all experience levels and a great place to learn about Wikidata in particular and the semantic web in general. Information about joining the Slack workspace and Google Group, where you will see announcements for a variety of workshops, presentations, and other events, is available here.



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    Benjamin Riesenberg (they/them)
    Digital Collections Metadata Librarian
    University of Oregon Knight Library
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  • 3.  RE: Newbies in the field

    Posted Aug 01, 2025 11:20 AM

    Thank you so much !



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    Tomeka Jackson
    Library Resident
    Clemson University
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Newbies in the field

    Posted Jun 27, 2025 10:13 AM

    Hi Tomeka,

    I second checking out the LD4 Wikidata Affinity Group. But also The LD4 conference - a free yearly conference that has things for all skill level.

    Also, this book is a great starting point: Linked Data for the Perplexed Librarian. There's a Q&A with the authors that's free to watch, done back in 2020 with the MCLS's Linked Data User Group.

    Library Juice has a class on Linked Data that I took years ago, but I highly recommend it for beginners: Introduction to Linked Data



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    Marianne Swierenga
    Cataloging and Metadata Librarian
    Western Michigan University
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  • 5.  RE: Newbies in the field

    Posted Jul 21, 2025 04:02 PM

    Thank you this helps!



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    Tomeka Jackson
    Library Resident
    Clemson University
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    Original Message