What is OPAC

Linked Data (LD) emerged as an innovation in libraries over a decade ago. It refers to a set of best practices for publishing and linking structured data using existing Semantic Web technologies. Knowledge organisation in academic libraries can use the advantages of LD technologies to increase availability of library resources on the world wide web. Existing methods of descriptive cataloguing are based on describing metadata and constructing unique authorized access points as text strings. However, this strings-based approach works well in the closed environment of a traditional library catalogue and not in an open environment where data are shared and linked. This chapter investigates the introduction of LD in the organization of knowledge in academic libraries, as literature shows that students prefer to search the internet for their information needs. Secondary literature was reviewed and analysed. Findings indicated that libraries that adopted LD increased the visibility of their products on the internet.