Demonstrating library value at network scale: leveraging the Semantic Web with new knowledge work

Abstract

Librarians may enjoy new roles as trusted facilitators who can develop effective and replicable optimization services by delivering measurable value based on metrics that matter to each organization’s leadership. The Montana State University (MSU) Library is engaged in Semantic Web research on several fronts, which we will describe in this article. Our concept of “new knowledge work” encompasses the discoverability, accessibility, and usability of content and services in the Semantic Web. In this article, we survey the following new services that libraries can offer their users and campus partners to aid discovery and understanding of resources at the network scale:

1. Establishing semantic identity for content and entities. 2. Structuring metadata for machine ingest and leveraging external search mechanisms. 3. Centralizing management of faculty activity data for efficient population of Institutional Repository (IR) and other reporting outlets. 4. Developing programmatic social media strategies to connect communities and content. 5. Advancing the role of the library as publisher to include the creation of open extensible book softw