SEMANTIC WEB AND LINKED DATA TECHNOLOGIES FOR NEXT-GENERATION  LIBRARY KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT

Munyao V.W., Ndung’u H., Wasike J., Tsinale H

Munyao V.W., Ndung’u H., Wasike J., Tsinale H Kirinyaga University,

Keywords: Semantic Web, Linked Data, library knowledge management, interoperability, resource discovery, RDF, BIBFRAME, Kenyan libraries

Abstract

Academic and Research libraries are growingly through exponential rise of digital information, heterogeneous sources of data, and user prospects for seamless, intelligent knowledge access. Traditional
library knowledge management structures, usually siloed and record-centric, struggle with semantic discovery, interoperability, and amalgamation with the larger web. In response, Semantic Web and
Linked Data technologies have evolved as major innovations, allowing interconnected metadata, machine-readable, supporting dynamic organization of knowledge and advanced discovery services. To
understand this evolution, this study sought to understand adoption and efficacy of Semantic Web and Linked Data technologies in improving library knowledge management worldwide, regionally and in
Kenya. It examines the core technologies, current applications, limitations of traditional systems, and the semantic framework capacity to enhance interoperability, resource discovery, and service delivery.
Data was acquired using systematic literature review, analyzing 35 institutional reports, peer-reviewed journal articles, policy documents, and technical standards. Information was acquired from online
institutional repositories, academic databases, and platforms including Europeana, Google Scholar, and AfriLIS. Data was thematically synthesized across world, Africa, and Kenyan settings, highlighting
benefits, trends, challenges, and research gaps. Findings from the world show that libraries as evident in BIBFRAME, Europeana, and Wikidata integration shows enhanced interoperability, discoverability,
and semantic data reuse. Regionally, adoption is mainly pilot-driven, limited by technical skills, infrastructure, and funding. In Kenya, apart from Moi University with the pilot program, activities
remain largely training-oriented or conceptual, with limited practical implementation of Linked Data and RDF frameworks. The research highlights important gaps in operational implementation and
empirical evidence in Kenyan libraries. Semantic Web and Linked Data technologies have the capacity to improve library knowledge management through enabling machine-readable, interoperable
knowledge networks and advanced discovery services. Future studies should focus on capacity-building, pilot implementations, user-centered assessments, and cross-institutional integration to translate
theoretical structures into practical library solutions.