Abstract:
Research Problem
There is an increasing amount of data generated and held by cultural heritage institutions.
As national libraries are making this data available through open data platforms, this research explores how features of labs could be utilised to improve the manner in how this
data is presented for users, and whether these two apparently distinct approaches could
have more to do with each other than might be initially thought.
Methodology
A qualitative Content Analysis approach was used to study the websites of the institutions
under study. The population included twenty-two national libraries across three geographic areas: Europe, North America and Australasia.
Results
While some form of open data is offered by the majority of national libraries, only a handful have developed detailed platforms for users, whereas the majority present open data in
technical, undeveloped webpages as bare data dumps or through APIs. Labs exist in a
number of institutions, and can be distinguished between those that present an external
service, and those that are internal only. The external platforms present unique and creatives ways to present data to users, and have features that are suitable to adopt for open
data presentation in national libraries.
Implications
Cultural heritage Institutions should consider not just what they are making available, but
also how they are making data available. Institutions should seek ways to get users to engage, via shaping and presenting information in a relatable way. Lessons can be learned
from how labs use and present data in innovate ways, in order to engage staff and users.
Applying the features of and learnings from the lab experience to how institutions present
open data could be a means to supplement the often dry, technical information presented.
Exploring this in a specific institution as a case study would be the next step in this process.
