Natural Allies in National Libraries: Open Data Platforms and GLAM Labs

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.