Journal Article: “Much More Than a Mere Technology: A Systematic Review of Wikidata in Libraries”

The article linked below was recently published by the The Journal of Academic Librarianship.

Title

Much More Than a Mere Technology: A Systematic Review of Wikidata in Libraries

Authors

Karim Tharani
University of Saskatchewan

Source

The Journal of Academic Librarianship
Volume 47, Issue 2, March 2021, 102326
DOI: 10.1016/j.acalib.2021.102326

Abstract

Wikidata is gaining popularity in libraries as an open and collaborative global platform for sharing and exchanging library metadata. Based on a systematic review of the Library and Information Studies (LIS) literature, this study explores how and why Wikidata is being used in libraries as well as what are some of the benefits and barriers that have surfaced as a result of the early experimentation of Wikidata during its first decade of existence.

The review revealed that Wikidata in libraries is generally described as an open and reusable knowledgebase of structured data capable of linking local metadata with a network of global metadata. Libraries have started experimenting with Wikidata to improve the global reach and access of their unique and prominent collections and scholars. While Wikidata holds great potential to become the repository choice for authority data disambiguation and linking, its sustainable integration into library operations remains a challenge. Much more than a technology, Wikidata provides a way for librarians to embrace social justice and practice librarianship on a global scale for the public good.

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Filed under: Data Files, Libraries, News, Open Access