Access Beyond Borders: Linked Open Data Applications on Cultural Heritage

ABSTRACT The main mission of cultural memory institutions is to protect their collections and to provide access to a wider audience. World Wide Web technology offers different tools to fulfill this mission. Among a range of applications, the most effective is the search engines’ search for metadata of collections. However, search engines are not always able to see all sources caused by various problems. Linked data is a publishing technique that uses standard web technologies to associate data with other data and makes them available on the Web. In available literature, it is seen that many memory institutions use Linked Open Data as a solution to the search engine problem with the main motivation of making their collections more accessible. However, these applications are still not at proficient level. In this study, Linked Open Data studies in the available literature were scanned and a process map was created based on these applications. These applications, which especially require technical knowledge and infrastructure, can be confusing for memory institutions that have not yet participated in the process. In this context, it is clear that the process map created as a result of this study will be enlightening for memory institutions. The most important point on the map is that an extensive decision-making mechanism should be formed with the stakeholders before starting the process and the implementation plan should be developed in detail over the problems of existing projects.