2013 Reports

Linked Open Data for Cultural Heritage

Edelstein, Jeff; Galla, Lola; Li-Madeo, Carolyn; Marden, Julia; Rhonemus, Alison; Whysel, Noreen Y.

This paper surveys the landscape of linked open data projects in cultural heritage, examining the work of groups from around the world. Traditionally, linked open data has been ranked using the five star method proposed by Tim Berners-Lee. We found this ranking to be lacking when evaluating how cultural heritage groups not merely develop linked open datasets, but find ways to use linked data to augment user experience. Building on the five-star method, we developed a six-stage life cycle describing both dataset development and dataset usage. We use this framework to describe and evaluate fifteen linked open data projects in the realm of cultural heritage.