Linked Open Data in Library Catalogues: Implementation Barriers and Pathways to Interoperability

Abstract

Linked Open Data represents a paradigm shift in bibliographic description, promising seamless interoperability between library catalogues, knowledge graphs, and the broader web of data. Despite broad consensus on its theoretical benefits, adoption among library systems remains uneven and often superficial. This study investigates implementation barriers through in-depth interviews with 34 library technology professionals at institutions that have attempted linked data transitions, complemented by technical analysis of 18 publicly available library linked data endpoints. We identify four primary barrier categories: legacy system constraints, staff competency gaps, absence of shared authority control infrastructure, and unclear return on investment for catalogue users. Drawing on successful implementation cases, we propose a phased adoption roadmap that prioritizes high-value, low-friction applications including ORCID integration, Wikidata alignment, and schema.org markup as stepping stones toward full bibliographic linked data publication.