Close-reading of Linked Data: a case study in regards to the quality of online authority files

TL;DR

This paper critically examines the quality and limitations of online authority files in Linked Data, using a case study to compare RDF triples with traditional metadata in cultural institutions.

Contribution

It provides a detailed analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of linked authority files through a close-reading case study, highlighting practical implications for cultural data sharing.

Findings

Linked Data can enrich metadata but faces quality issues.

RDF triples offer structured data advantages and limitations.

Decentralized knowledge bases have both potentials and challenges.

Abstract

More and more cultural institutions use Linked Data principles to share and connect their collection metadata. In the archival field, initiatives emerge to exploit data contained in archival descriptions and adapt encoding standards to the semantic web. In this context, online authority files can be used to enrich metadata. However, relying on a decentralized network of knowledge bases such as Wikidata, DBpedia or even Viaf has its own difficulties. This paper aims to offer a critical view of these linked authority files by adopting a close-reading approach. Through a practical case study, we intend to identify and illustrate the possibilities and limits of RDF triples compared to institutions' less structured metadata.