The future of metadata: open, linked, and multilingual – the YSO case

Abstract

Purpose This paper focuses on the process of multilingual concept scheme construction and the challenges involved. The paper addresses concrete challenges faced in the construction process and especially those related to equivalence between terms and concepts. The paper also briefly outlines the translation strategies developed during the process of concept scheme construction.Design/methodology/approach The analysis is based on experience acquired during the establishment of the Finnish thesaurus and ontology service Finto as well as the trilingual General Finnish Ontology YSO, both of which are being maintained and further developed at the National Library of Finland.Findings Although URIs can be considered language-independent, they do not render concept schemes and their construction free of language-related challenges. The fundamental issue with all the challenges faced is how to maintain consistency and predictability when the nature of language requires each concept to be treated individually. The key to such challenges is to recognise the function of the vocabulary and the needs of its intended users. Social implicationsOpen science increases the transparency of not only research products, but also metadata tools. Gaining a deeper understanding of the challenges involved in their construction is important for a great variety of users -e.g., indexers, vocabulary builders and information seekers. Today, multilingualism is an essential aspect at both the national and international information society level.Originality/value This paper draws on the practical challenges faced in concept scheme construction in a trilingual environment, with a focus on "concept scheme" as a translation and mapping unit.

Identifying Metadata Quality Issues Across Cultures

“…The utility and impact of such strategies may also depend upon where additional language versions are published: in the journal platform and/or in the article PDF, for instance. Journal publishing services might also explore linked data methods to support multilingualism and cross-linked name references in publication metadata (Niininen et al 2017;El-Sherbini 2018;Hardesty & Nolan 2021). Fields already exist for persistent ORCiD identifiers for researcher profiles, which can be utilized for linked data initiatives.…”

Topics and changing characteristics of knowledge organization research in the 21st century: a content analysis

“…, 2014), case study (e.g. El-Sherbini, 2018; Niininen et al. , 2017), and theoretical analysis (e.g.…”

“…Bolock et al, 2021;Strassner and Diab, 2016;Wang et al, 2014), case study (e.g. El-Sherbini, 2018Niininen et al, 2017), and theoretical analysis (e.g. Hjørland, 2013).…”

Understanding Artificial Intelligence in Research Libraries – Extensive Literature Review

“…A first step could be to enrich library metadata with correct tags (Voorbij, 2012) and the interests and needs of a "great variety of users" (Niininen et al, 2017). In libraries, users, their needs, and their data, such as library usage and website visits, have always been kept secret (Johnson, 2018), but this is undergoing a change.…”