The University of Southampton increases discoverability of special collections

The University of Southampton created, curated, and connected linked data entities to increase the discoverability of two identified special collections.

OCLC services used:

• EZproxy
• GreenGlass
• OCLC Meridian
• WorldCat Discovery
• WorldCat Entities
• WorldShare Management Services

The University of Southampton set out to increase its staff's understanding of linked data while improving the discoverability of two special collections: Visionaires, held at the Winchester School of Art Library, and a subsection of the Parkes Collections of Holocaust memoirs, held in Hartley Library's Special Collections.

Like many special collections, these materials contain rich connections among people, places, and works. Traditional catalog records, however, can make those relationships difficult for users to discover and explore.

After speaking with OCLC staff and attending webinars about other libraries' experiences with OCLC Meridian, the University of Southampton decided to pursue a pilot project. The library saw an opportunity to enrich and connect metadata in ways it had not been able to previously while building staff knowledge and experience with linked data.

Revealing connections beyond the record catalog

Using Meridian, library staff created, curated, and connected linked data entities representing people, places, and works within the two collections. The result was a richer network of relationships that could provide researchers with additional context and new ways to explore the materials.

“These collections are for a very specific community of users, but we felt that we were able to surface relationships and connections that were previously not apparent and wouldn't be apparent in a flat catalog,” said Sarah Glaccum, Discovery Manager at the University of Southampton. “Adopting Meridian allows for long-term enhancement of discoverability of our collections, which aligns with our strategic objectives.”

One example is Rachel Auerbach, whose work documenting life in the Warsaw Ghetto is represented in the Parkes Collections. Through Meridian, library staff were able to connect Auerbach with the Warsaw Ghetto, the archive that she was instrumental in creating, the collection of material held at Hartley Library, the organization she worked with, and other people associated with her work.

These connections give researchers more context and additional paths into the collection, allowing them to explore relationships that might otherwise remain difficult to uncover through individual catalog records.

Building skills and opportunities for the future

The pilot project also brought together colleagues from across the library, creating opportunities for teams to share knowledge and collaborate. As staff worked with the collections, they developed a stronger understanding of linked data while becoming more familiar with the materials themselves.

The work helped staff enrich metadata and improve record quality, creating more effective ways to search and explore the collections. Just as importantly, the project demonstrated that linked data work could be accessible to staff without extensive specialist experience.

“Everyone has been really positive about the project and it has upskilled the team, helping them to improve their knowledge and understanding of what linked data is,” Sarah said.

The University of Southampton's Meridian pilot demonstrated how linked data can support richer discovery of special collections while helping staff develop new metadata skills. By creating links among people, places, and works, the library has created new opportunities for researchers to discover and explore relationships within the collections.

Building on the lessons from the pilot, the library is now exploring where Meridian could have the greatest impact across its collections and how linked data practices could be incorporated more broadly in the future.