Invited Talk: Linked Data: Open and Closed

Linked Open Data (LOD) is compared and contrasted with Linked Data that is closed or otherwise encumbered data that cannot be reused. LOD, by design, fosters interoperability and reuse, enabling richer discovery, more innovative applications, and broader engagement with cultural and scholarly resources. Openness requires managing expectations of support and availability, and is most effective when there are opportunities for contribution or feedback methods. Closed or restricted data avoid the complexities of community engagement but curtails collaboration, stifles experimentation, and leads to missed opportunities to advance research, improve user services, and collectively build knowledge. We argue that libraries should advocate for open practices wherever possible, while being mindful of the commitments they make about open data.