Connecting the Dots

A Semantic Web Solution for Enhanced Library Resource Discovery

Abstract

The National Library Board (NLB) of Singapore has made significant strides in leveraging data to enhance public access to its extensive collection of physical and digital resources. This paper explores the development and implementation of the Singapore Infopedia Widget, a recommendation engine designed to guide users to related resources by utilizing metadata and a Linked Data Knowledge Graph. By consolidating diverse datasets from various source systems and employing semantic web technologies such as Resource Description Framework (RDF) and Schema.org, NLB has created a robust knowledge graph that enriches user experience and facilitates seamless exploration.

The widget, integrated into Infopedia, the Singapore Encyclopedia, surfaces data through a user-friendly interface, presenting relevant resources categorized by format. The paper details the architecture of the widget, the ranking algorithm used to prioritize resources, and the challenges faced in its development. Future directions include integrating user feedback, enhancing semantic analysis, and scaling the service to other web platforms within NLB’s ecosystem. This initiative underscores NLB’s commitment to fostering innovation, knowledge sharing, and the continuous improvement of public data access.