FROM SILOS TO THE
SEMANTIC WEB:
as Library Catalogs Open,
What Do Students Hope to
Find?
M e g a n C o d e r,
Catalog Librarian
M a d e l i n e Ve i t c h ,
M et a d a t a
Cataloger
S o j o ur n e r Tr u t h
Library
S U N Y N ew P a l t z
CATALOGS IN TRANSITION
LIBRARY CATALOGS AND SEMANTIC
FUTURES
 The semantic web or linked data model will make library catalog
data more accessible to web crawlers - creating discoverable
library records on the open web, as well as library records that
link out to content elsewhere on the web.
 In linking data environments to create records that are less silo ed and more interconnected, many libraries are having
conversations about including commercial data in their OPAC
records (Goodreads, IMDb, etc.)
 RDA, RDF, and the promise of BibFrame are essential to this
transition to this “linked” iteration of the catalog .
 EDS, Summon, and other Discovery tools are bringing in new
data, and raising questions about quality control and user
preferences in linked data environments to come.
LIBRARY CATALOGS AND SEMANTIC
FUTURES
 Library records that look more like the open library, where
each record contains multiple links to other databases
containing the content itself, or supplemental information
about the resource.
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
 What are students’ search habits like for books and
films? What is their “go to” strategy?
 Which parts of a book or movie record do students find
most helpful or important to their evaluation of a
resource?
 Do students have a sense of who is responsible for
inputting data into library and commercial databases?
Do they find some databases to be more credible than
others?
 What changes to library records would make them more
useful, or more likely to be a “first stop” in the research
process?
STUDY DESIGN
 35-question Qualtrics survey
 Pizza and raf fle incentive were of fered; survey was taken in a
Library classroom during two evening drop -in sessions.
#
Answer
Response
%
1
Undergraduate Firstyear
8
12%
2
Undergraduate
Sophomore
7
10%
3
Undergraduate Junior
23
34%
4
Undergraduate Senior
24
36%
5
Graduate Student
5
7%
Total
67
100%
STUDY DESIGN
 We asked students to reflect on their search habits (where
they go to find books or movies, how often they search, and
for what reasons)
When you want to find out more about a book where do you go first?
When you want to find out more about a movie where do you go first?
In the last six months, have you checked out a book from the SUNY New Paltz Library?
In the last six months, have you purchased a book from Amazon or another online bookstore?
Over the past year, how often have you acquired the following (for rent or purchase) from
any retailer (a required book for class [on syllabus], a book for a research assignment, a book
to read for fun, a video)
Over the past year, how often have you borrowed the following from any library: (a required
book for class [on syllabus], a book for a research assignment, a book to read for fun, a video)
RESULTS
 When you want to find out more about a book where do you go
first?
3%
Other
6%
Friends or family
3%
A bookstore (physical storefront)
54%
Google it and visit pages in result list
SUNY New Paltz Library resources (Catalog,
Discovery Search, Worldcat)
12%
22%
Amazon.com
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
RESULTS
 When you want to find out more about a movie where do you
go first?
13%
Other
12%
Friends or family
A bookstore (physical storefront)
0%
66%
Google it and visit pages in result list
SUNY New Paltz Library resources (Catalog,
Discovery Search, Worldcat)
1%
7%
Amazon
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
RESULTS
 In the last six months have you checked out a book from the
SUNY New Paltz Library? Purchased one from Amazon or
another online bookstore?
39%
Library
No
13%
Amazon +
61%
Yes
87%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
A Required Book for Class (on syllabus)
50
45
Library
40
Rent/Purchased
Number of Respondents
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
Never
1-3 times
4-6 times
7-9 times More than 9
times
Book for a Research Assignment
50
45
Library
Number of Respondents
40
Rent/Purchased
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
Never
1-3 times
4-6 times
7-9 times
More than 9
times
A Book to Read for Fun
Number of Respondents
50
45
Library
40
Rent/Purchased
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
Never
1-3 times
4-6 times
7-9 times More than 9
times
A Video
50
Library
45
Rent/Purchased
Number of Respondents
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
Never
1-3 times
4-6 times
7-9 times More than 9
times
STUDY DESIGN
 We also asked students to rank open commercial and noncommercial databases against corresponding records in the
SUNY New Paltz Ebsco Discovery Service (EDS).
 Students were asked to evaluate two books and one movie
across three interfaces each
 EDS catalog view (launched Spring 2014)
 Amazon
 IMDb (Independent Movie Database)
 Library Thing (a non-profit site with user-generated
book metadata, reviews, and recommendations)
Book Record Comparison: EDS
Book Record Comparison: Amazon
Book Record Comparison: Library Thing
Evaluating Records
EDS for Film Record
Amazon for Film Record
IMDb for Film Record
Evaluating Records
Summary or Book Description
60%
50%
40%
Amazon
30%
Library Thing
Catalog
20%
10%
0%
Very Useful
Somewhat Useful
Not Useful
Student comments about the summary or book description
Which record gives you the best sense of the book's quality?
Amazon
The Library Thing site's layout seemed too weird for me, I had a hard time understanding where
things were. The SUNY New Paltz Library Catalog provided a lot of information but was very
confusing to read through. It took me a few minutes to understand that the abstract was the
summary/book description. Amazon was the most user friendly with the book description at the
top where it was easy to spot and all of the extra information was condensed. The
recommended books come with viewer ratings right there.
Amazon
Honestly, because it better displays the book. It has a more aesthetic quality which easily
allows the user to see the summary.
Amazon
The format by which they presented the book and its description made it appear as if it was the
best.
Amazon
Amazon is very straight-forward in the display of the product, it requires very little searching in
the product itself for reviews or summaries. The website itself is very simple, to put it in the
most basic terms.
Because it gives a4 out of five star review, description, multiple formats to buy it in and a
description of the author
Amazon
Catalog
Amazons link had a poor description and I didn't find any summary for the book at all under
Library Thing. All I saw for Library Thing was Review. The Suny catalog at least had the
description and other information laid out clearly.
Catalog
It gave an all around description of everything you needed to know.
Catalog
This has the most informative summary, and I get the best sence of what the book is about.
Catalog
Abstract gives the best description.
Library Thing
This record had the most information up front with the least scrolling and clicking of the three
options.
Table of Contents
60%
50%
40%
Amazon
30%
Library Thing
Catalog
20%
10%
0%
Very Accessible
Somewhat Accessible
Not Accessible
Links to Related Resources
60%
50%
40%
Amazon
30%
Library Thing
Catalog
20%
10%
0%
Very Useful
Somewhat Useful
Not Useful
Links to Recommended Resources
60%
50%
40%
Amazon
30%
Library Thing
Catalog
20%
10%
0%
Very Useful
Somewhat Useful
Not Useful
Student comments about related resources
Which record gives you the best sense of the book's quality?
Amazon
Once again Amazon proves to be the easiest way to access information about the book and related
subjects through its page setup.
Amazon
It is a very visual website. There are picture of similar reads, a rating system for readers with stars,
and a biography of the author.
Amazon
Same reason as before, as well as a larger focus on customer reviews and related items.
Catalog
I chose the SUNY New Paltz Library Catalo record because it was more descriptive of the book. It gave
the subject/genre for which it fell under
Catalog
The keywords are large and informative, based off of reader's reviews I assume, rather than the
website description.
Library Thing
Same as before. Also, I tune out the related links and recommended stuff - I do not take random
suggestions from the internet. Especially not Amazon.
Library Thing
Again, the keywords were very useful in that big bubble.
Student comments about recommended resources
Which record gives you the best sense of the book's quality?
Amazon
amazon is very user friendly and offers more reviews by other users and customers
Amazon
I would say amazon gives me the best sense of the book's quality because of the diversity within the
reviews. Library thing also has diverse reviews, however I would assume that everyone who
participates in the Library Thing reviews are avid readers and somewhat biased, whereas Amazon
may give me a more general overview of the book.
Amazon
I love the reviews from consumers like me
Amazon
I feel Amazon has the easiest to understand user interface, and the most accesible reviews. Also, it is
visually pleasing.
Catalog
User reviews and a sneak peak at the book are all on the same page.
Library Thing
Library Thing provides the best balance between community feedback and academic resource
catalog, compared to the opposite extremes of Amazon and STL website.
Library Thing
Library Thing offers ample community feedback without the sense of trying to sell something.
Amelie [Film]: Links to Related Resources
60%
50%
40%
Amazon
30%
IMDb
Catalog
20%
10%
0%
Very Useful
Somewhat Useful
Not Useful
Student comments about film record
Which record gives you the best sense of the movie's quality?
Amazon
even though i went to the web site of suny new paltz i still would go to amazon because i just figure
that people have scratched the disks at suny new paltz making the quality of the movie go down. at
least this way i know im not going to have to deal with this.
Catalog
It gives the most information in the easiest way to see it
IMDB
IMDb is a more trusted resource in my personal opinion when it comes to movie reviews and
gathering information on films in general.
IMDB
It gave a link to a trailer, as well as other useful information like the actors. Also had interesting facts
about the movie. There is also a section that says movies that viewers liked, it had a movie that I
love! I really want to see this movie now.
IMDB
IMDb has the most relevant and abundant information on the film, all of which is easy to access. In
addition Amazon simply gives a link to IMDb instead of going into detail about the movie on its own
page.
IMDb is very comprehensive both as a catalog and film community.
IMDB
IMDB
IMDb gives me the most information about the movie on one simple page that is easy to understand
and navigate and it has most of the things that I use to decide on watching a movie or not.
IMDB
I found it easier to find what I was looking for, and because there were no typos in the page.
IMDB
IMDb provides an easy to see and understand ranking out of ten. It is extremely easy to see the
related movies, and the description is much easier to find.
Which record gave you the best sense of the
book’s overall quality?
Amazon
Library Thing
Catalog
31.50%
58%
10.50%
Who do you think adds content to a SUNY New Paltz
library catalog record? (please check all that apply)
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Library users
Librarians
Librarians The Library of Publishers / Amazon and
working at
working at
Congress producers of other retailers
SUNY New other libraries
books and
Paltz
movies
We've asked you to evaluate records from several different providers. Please rank
them according to how credible or trustworthy you find their information to be:
60%
Amazon
IMDb
50%
Library Thing
40%
SUNY New Paltz Library
Catalog
30%
20%
10%
0%
Not
trustworthy
Somewhat
trustworthy
Trustworthy
Very
trustworthy
If the SUNY New Paltz Library Catalog
records for books and movies came up in a
Google search results list, would you look at
them more often than you do now?
Do you think the SUNY New Paltz
Library Catalog should include
information from Amazon.com, IMDb,
or Library Thing?
16%
21%
Yes
No
84%
79%
“As shallow as this may be, star ratings are
widely used and give people an immediate
sense for the content. It may not always be
truthful but if generated by the users than
the reviews will most always be written by
only those who are passionate about the
content and ignored by those who don’t care
much for it and don't have an opinion they
deem worth voicing.”
“I think it would be a wasteful use
of space, effort, and money. Why
spend time and money imitating
information that can be found
elsewhere?”
“Compile as much information as
possibly available.”
“I'm not sure if user-generated content and
opinions should appear in a scholarly
website. Perhaps, students leaving reviews
would be useful. But, I feel that content from
the other sources would flood the page with
false and useless information.”
“I think that the more
information, the better. BUT
ABOVE ALL MAKE THE PAGES
LOOK BETTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
What additional features (if any) would you like to find on SUNY New Paltz Library
Catalog records?
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
User Reviews
Trailers
User-generated Sample Chapter
Tags
Additional
Don't think
Related /
additional
Recommended features should
Titles
be added
SUMMING UP
 Though more students used Amazon regularly to find books and
movies, AND they found Amazon records twice as useful as
library records, they also trusted library catalog data more than
Amazon’s - again at a twofold proportion.
 Students really preferred to do a Google search for a book /
movie and select a page from the results list; majority (84%)
said they would be more likely to use Library data if it appeared
in these searches.
 User reviews, sample chapters, and trailers emerged as features
students would most like to see more of; these are all elements
best achieved with a linked data model.
 Certain cataloging practices affirmed. Students were more likely
to check out books for a research paper from the library than say
a textbook or leisure read. When we build high quality records
for more obscure titles that might aid in research, we provide
data that Amazon might not.
 Takeaway: to think about how we might make records that would
appear high on a Google results list.
QUESTIONS FOR TODAY, AND TOMORROW
 Questions about credibility of data being pulled into Library
records (e.g. Goodreads, Google books)
 Do students understand how metadata gets into a Library record
as opposed to a commercial space? Does it matter?
 How can the catalog adapt to user expectations and remain
relevant in a linked data environment?
 Our EDS was implemented only a few short months before the
study; for some students, the study may have been their
introduction to that interface. How would our results have been
different if we had used the classic OPAC?
 Part of our reason for choosing Library Thing over Goodreads was
a hope that we might be able to customize our EDS to pull in
what we had felt was better data from Library Thing. However, a
discrete evaluation of the source we already had in our EDS
might have been useful.
SELECTED SOURCES
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O t h e r D i s c ove r y To o l s , f i n a l r e p o r t , L i b r a r y o f C o n g r e s s , av a i l a b l e a t :
w w w. l o c. g ov / c a t di r /c a l h o un - r e p o r t - fi n al . p d f
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W h a t T h e Fu t u r e M ay H o l d Fo r Re s e a r c h - S up p o r t i n g L i b r a r y C a t a l o g ue s . " J o u r n a l O f
Ac a d e m i c L i b r a r i a n sh i p 3 0 . 5 ( 2 0 0 4 ) : 3 8 2 - 3 9 0 .
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 Ro l l a , P. J . " U s e r Ta g s Ve r s u s S u b j e c t H e a d i n g s : C a n U s e r - S up p li e d D a t a I m p rov e
S u b j ec t A c c e s s To L i b r a r y C o l l ec t i o n s ? . " L i b r a r y R e s o u r c e s & Te c h n i c a l S e r vi c e s
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 S z eto , K . ( 2 01 3 ) . Po s i t i o n i n g L i b r a r y D a t a Fo r T h e S e m a n t i c We b : Re c e n t
D ev e l o p m e n t s I n Re s o u rc e D e s c r ip t i o n . J o u r n a l O f We b L i b r a r i a n s h i p 7 ( 3 ) , 3 0 5 - 3 21 .
QUESTIONS?