Rethinking Authority Reconciliation Process

Tang Cindy Tian, Notre Dame Law School
Greta Heng, San Diego State University
Timothy W. Cole, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Myung-Ja Han, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Abstract

Entity identity management and name reconciliation are intrinsic to both Linked Open Data (LOD) and traditional library authority control. Does this mean that LOD sources can facilitate authority control? This Emblematica Online case study examines the utility of five LOD sources for name reconciliation, comparing design differences regarding ontologies, linking models, and entity properties. It explores the challenges of name reconciliation in the LOD environment and provides lessons learned during a semi-automated name reconciliation process. It also briefly discusses the potential values and benefits of LOD authorities to the authority reconciliation process itself and library services in general.