Semantic Web Identity of Academic Organizations: Search engine entity recognition and the sources that influence Knowledge Graph Cards in search results
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Date
2017
Authors
Arlitsch, Kenning
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Humboldt Universität zu Berlin
Abstract
Semantic Web Identity (SWI) characterizes an entity that has been recognized as such by search
engines. The display of a Knowledge Graph Card in Google search results for an academic
organization is proposed as an indicator of SWI, as it demonstrates that Google has gathered
enough verifiable facts to establish the organization as an entity. This recognition may in turn
improve the accuracy and relevancy of its referrals to that organization.
This dissertation presents findings from an in-depth survey of the 125 member libraries
of the Association of Research Libraries (ARL). The findings show that these academic libraries
are poorly represented in the structured data records that are a crucial underpinning of the
Semantic Web and a significant factor in achieving SWI. Lack of SWI extends to other academic
organizations, particularly those at the lower hierarchical levels of academic institutions,
including colleges, departments, centers, and research institutes. A lack of SWI may affect other
factors of interest to academic organizations, including ability to attract research funding,
increase student enrollment, and improve institutional reputation and ranking.
This study hypothesizes that the poor state of SWI is in part the result of a failure by
these organizations to populate appropriate Linked Open Data (LOD) and proprietary Semantic
Web knowledge bases. The situation represents an opportunity for academic libraries to
develop skills and knowledge to establish and maintain their own SWI, and to offer SWI service
to other academic organizations in their institutions. The research examines the current state of
SWI for ARL libraries and some other academic organizations, and describes case studies that
validate the effectiveness of proposed techniques to correct the situation. It also explains new
services that are being developed at the Montana State University Library to address SWI needs
on its campus, which could be adapted by other academic libraries
Description
This is a dissertation in fulfillment of the requirements for a Ph.D., awarded to the author by Humboldt University in Berlin, Germany.
Keywords
Semantic Web, Knowledge Graph Cards, Knowledge Cards, search engines, Google, Wikipedia, Google My Business, DBpedia, Wikidata, Google Plus