The document discusses lessons learned in transforming metadata from XML formats to RDF. It describes how libraries and cultural heritage institutions are working to express existing metadata standards like MODS and PBCore in RDF to take advantage of capabilities like linked data. Challenges include mapping XML schemas to RDF ontologies and ensuring RDF can meet identified use cases. Examples are provided of institutions that have transformed metadata to RDF to share across systems or publish as linked open data.

1. RDFintheRealWorld
Lessons in Morphing Metadata
Juliet L. Hardesty @jlhardes
Metadata Analyst, Indiana University Libraries
Digital Library Federation Forum 2015, Vancouver, BC

2. TheconversationIwanttohavetoday
Libraries, archives, and museums deal with metadata A LOT
XML/text files, database tables
Tech we use has figured out how to do things with metadata
in those formats
ILS, CMS, digital repositories, flesh & blood programmers o/ :)

3. There’smoretothisconversation
RDF holds a lot of promise
How much is still just promise and how much is reality?
I have my perspective which includes a lot of Fedora 4
This is what I see and what I think we should understand as
the library community

4. DifferentRDFactivitiesaredifferent
Publish Linked Data
RDF doesn’t have to be Linked Data
Software incorporates RDF for metadata
Digital object management through RDF graphs
Sharing metadata vs digital asset management

5. Resource DescriptionFramework(RDF)
It’s a way to model data:
subject -> predicate -> object .
a thing -> has property -> value of that property .
image has creator person .
<URI for image> <URI for term “creator”> <URI for person> .

6. REsourceDescriptionFramework(RDF)
http://id.loc.gov/authorities/
names/no2004088188
http://purl.dlib.indiana.edu/iu
dl/archives/cushman/P13713
http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/creator
has creator
Women in several reds Hilton Hotel. July 14, 1964. Cushman, Charles W., 1896-1972

7. WhatRDFisdoing
Describing resource (image)
Providing data (relationships and values)
Creating statements

8. eXtensibleMarkupLanguage(XML)
<mods>
<identifier>
P13713
<location>
<url>
http://purl.dlib.indiana.../P13713.jpg
<name>
<namePart>s
Cushman, Charles
Weever, 1896-1972
<role>
.jpg
.xml

9. WhatXMLisdoing
Describing resource (image)
Labeling information (P13713)
Creating a document (record)

10. Fedora4
Expresses properties about digital objects using RDF
PCDM managing relationships between objects
Portland Common Data Model, Duraspace Github Wiki

11. RDFproperties workunlessthingsgetcomplex
NOT MODS

12. Valid but complex RDF
(statements wrapped inside
statements)
subject predicate object1
1subject predicate object;
subject predicate object;
subject predicate object.
Here’showthingsgetcomplex

13. MODS RDF is currently complex
hierarchical RDF
Fedora 4 creates blank nodes for
complex RDF
These genres (Academy Award winner
and Documentary films) become
their own objects in Fedora
Here’s what Fedora 4 does with that

14. Here’swhat’sbeenhappening
Group within Hydra community working through MODS elements
to find simpler ontology options to express descriptive
information (DCTerms, MarcRelator, EDM, SKOS)
MODS and RDF Descriptive Metadata Subgroup - Hydra - DuraSpace Wiki
Steven Anderson at Boston Public Library leading effort
Providing feedback to MODS RDF Ontology group (version 2 in
progress!)

15. PBCoreXML+EBUCoreRDF=PBUCore(?)RDF
XML standard managed by WGBH (Boston again!)
Want to express PBCore XML in RDF to allow for descriptive
and technical metadata statements in RDF in Fedora 4
Working with EBUCore to compare PBCore elements, establish
which can be expressed with EBUCore classes and
properties, and added some additional properties
Expanding expressions in EBUCore and allows PBCore XML to
be transformed into RDF

16. UNLV
UNLV started from CONTENTdm
Publishing LOD sets with interface to follow
UNLV Libraries

17. UCSD
Starting with MODS
Complex records so created new
data model
Mapping first to local
identifiers then figuring out
external URIs
Not keeping original MODS
UCSD Geisel Library
http://library.ucsd.edu/ontology/dams

18. OregonDigitalandUAlberta
Bringing various collections with various metadata together
(silos!)
Wanted to create metadata as Linked Data in new DAMS (Fedora
4/Hydra)
http://oregondigital.org
https://era.library.ualberta.ca

19. SoyouhaveXMLformetadata.HowdoyoumakeitRDF?
Develop use cases for why RDF is necessary
What metadata is RDF-ready (expressable as RDF) and how
will RDF be used?
If XML doesn’t contain URIs (Linked Data-ready) can it be
converted?
If XML standard is available as RDF (DC, DWC), transform
XML and see what RDF looks like
Consider if RDF can be used as defined in use cases

20. SoyouareanXMLstandard.Howdoyoumakeyourself RDF?
Develop use cases for why RDF is necessary
Possible path: Create RDF ontology equivalent of XML
DC, DWC, MODS, VRA Core
Possible path: Integrate with an RDF ontology
PBCore XML to EBUCore RDF, with additional properties
Consider if RDF can be used as defined in use cases
Dodge, Mary Elizabeth. 1894. When Life is Young: a collection of verse
for boys and girls. [p.] 143. The British Library. https://flic.kr/p/hXAC1A

21. CHALLENGESFROMXMLTORDF
XML schema != RDF ontology
XML encodes information about
something (<xml>info</xml>)
RDF statements are the
information (info)
Hang in There by jurvetson
https://flic.kr/p/7PuQdb

22. RDFChallenges
RDF ontology or mult RDF ontologies
!= All your metadata
RDF != Linked Data
NO, It Wasn’t Squirrel Proof !!! by kacey
https://flic.kr/p/65uX3J

23. Bibliography
2015. “Descriptive Metadata Call 2015-06-24.” Descriptive Metadata Call 2015-06-24 - Hydra - DuraSpace Wiki.
June 24. https://wiki.duraspace.org/display/hydra/Descriptive+Metadata+Call+2015-06-24.
Berners-Lee, Tim. 2009. “Linked Data.” Linked Data - Design Issues. June 18.
http://www.w3.org/DesignIssues/LinkedData.html.
Estlund, Karen, and Tom Johnson. 2013. “Link It or Don’t Use It: Transitioning Metadata to Linked Data in
Hydra,” July. http://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/xmlui/handle/1957/44856.
Farnel, Sharon. 2015. “Metadata at a Crossroads: Shifting ‘from Strings to Things’ for Hydra North.”
presented at the Open Repositories, Indianapolis, Indiana. http://slideplayer.com/slide/5384520/.
Lampert, Cory K., and Silvia B. Southwick. 2013. “Leading to Linking: Introducing Linked Data to Academic
Library Digital Collections.” Journal of Library Metadata 13 (2-3): 230–53. doi:10.1080/19386389.2013.826095.
Southwick, Sivlia B. 2015. “A Guide for Transforming Digital Collections Metadata into Linked Data Using Open
Source Technologies.” Journal of Library Metadata 15 (1): 1–35.

24. Thanks!
Julie Hardesty, Metadata Analyst
Indiana University Libraries
jlhardes@iu.edu
@jlhardes