Invited Talks

Linked Open Data (LOD) can be published on the Semantic Web as semantic mark-up embedded in HTML documents or as Knowledge Graphs (KG) in SPARQL endpoints, on top of which applications are developed. KGs typically share the same entities, such as persons, organizations, and places, which means that the data in different KGs about the entities can complement (enrich) or contradict each other, if only we knew what entities are the same in different KGs. For this purpose, entity alignment systems are needed. Examples of such systems include, e.g., the Virtual Authority File VIAF.org of national libraries around the world, the international Linked Open Data Cloud, Linked Open Vocabularies (LOV), and Europeana. This talk presents a new data alignment service and semantic portal "SampoSampo - Connecting Everything to Everything Else" implemented on top of a cloud of 26 related Cultural Heritage (CH) KGs and systems in different CH domains, including biographies, genealogy, fiction literature, historical letters, art, military history, parliamentary discussions, and historical opera performances. The novelty of SampoSampo is to show in practise how a data alignment system can be used for five practical use-cases in Digital Humanities research (DH): 1) Using a LOD alignment service to enrich data in other Cultural Heritage LOD services and applications. 2) Providing global search, browsing, and data-analytic tools over a cloud of KGs. 3) Searching and checking data quality issues based on a cloud of KGs. 4) AI-based knowledge discovery in a LOD cloud based on relational search and Large Language Models. 5) Enhancing data literacy by data-analyses over a KG cloud. SampoSampo was published openly on the Semantic Web in January 2026.

This talk will highlight key tools and features of International Image Interoperability Framework (IIIF) that enable, empower, and advance the content of digital libraries. The increasing importance of AI in the cultural heritage sector is also refactoring the use cases for IIIF. Examples of ongoing collaboration of the IIIF and AI4LAM (Artificial Intelligence for Libraries, Archives, and Museums) community will be featured. Also covered will be the mature standard IIIF functions such as deep zoom, annotations, and multiple asset reference (e.g. image comparisons). These elements of the IIIF standard will be highlighted to show how new tools and platforms are being developed using IIIF. Chief among these will be Allmaps [1] (which allows users to geo-reference a IIIF-enabled historic map on a modern map facilitating overlaying of maps of different periods for comparison and also allowing access to maps of locations from institutions across the world. An update on the status of the IIIF Presentation API 4.0 which further facilitates use of 3D content will also be covered [2]. The growing IIIF community will also be featured. The IIIF Content Commons, a developing concept that will enhance the findability of IIIF resources will also be explored. IIIF [3] is a set of open standards for delivering high-quality, attributed digital objects online at scale. It’s also an international community developing and implementing the IIIF APIs. IIIF is backed by a consortium of leading cultural institutions and a global and engaged community [4]. IIIF is a way to standardize the delivery of images and audio/visual files from servers to different environments on the Web where they can then be viewed and interacted with in many ways IIIF makes these objects work in a consistent way. That enables portability across viewers, the ability to connect and unite materials across institutional boundaries, and more. This portability is one of the reasons IIIF is an important standard in digital humanities research allowing open access collections to be used as research data and for research software to be written once and used with many collections. [1] Allmaps a map geo-referencing tool https://allmaps.org/ [2] IIIF Specification roadmap. https://iiif.io/news/2025/08/11/roadmap/ [3] International Image Interoperability Framework IIIF https://iiif.io [4] IIIF Specification roadmap. https://iiif.io/news/2025/08/11/roadmap/

Metadata has long been recognized as a fundamental component of research data management and reuse. However, the extent to which metadata practices facilitate data reuse remains insufficiently explored. This study investigates metadata practices in research data management across scientific disciplines. Data were collected from the Data Citation Index.. Five categories of metadata elements were identified and analyzed. The findings reveal that descriptive metadata and author-related information were the most prevalent across datasets, whereas persistent identifiers such as DOIs and ORCID iDs were used infrequently. These results contribute to a deeper understanding of metadata practices and highlight key metadata elements that may support the reuse of research data.

Ensuring long term access to digital materials is no longer optional—it is a core responsibility for every institution stewarding digital content. Karin Bredenberg, chair of the PREMIS Editorial Committee, offers a focused introduction to digital preservation, highlighting the critical role of preservation metadata and the PREMIS standard in sustaining the authenticity, reliability, and usability of digital objects over time. It demonstrates why preservation cannot rely on a single metadata standard and Bredenberg will argue for a strategic, coordinated use of multiple standards to meet the complex demands of long term stewardship. Bredenberg will clarify how preservation metadata complements descriptive metadata, dispelling the common misconception that using several standards leads to unnecessary duplication. Instead, it will be shown how intentional overlaps strengthen interoperability and support preservation workflows. Participants will gain a clearer understanding of why preservation metadata matters, how PREMIS fits into a broader metadata ecosystem, and how adopting these practices can significantly enhance the long term value of their digital collections and their continued trustworthiness and reusability.