What am I looking at: Contextualizing subject headings through linked open data

Abstract

Many libraries have deployed discovery layers to bring various library resources under a single search interface. These tools, which mostly rely on keyword indexing, do not easily bring together items on similar topics described under different thesauri. Michigan State University Libraries (MSUL) undertook an experimental project to enhance subject discovery through subject knowledge cards that utilize subject authority data and linked open data (LOD). Subject knowledge cards are currently deployed in the MSUL digital repository to improve the subject discovery experience by displaying contextual information on the subject, links to repository items on broader, narrower and related subjects, and links to external library resources on the same subject. This approach demonstrates a new way to enhance the subject discovery experience through LOD.

Keywords:

• Linked open data
• subject discovery
• digital repositories
• knowledge cards