Overview

Culturegraph is a cooperative platform provided by the German National Library which pools the bibliographic metadata held by all the German library networks, the German National Library and the Austrian Library Network (OBVSG). By aggregating these data, Culturegraph opens up possibilities not only for data analysis and data synchronisation but also for the further linkage of library holdings.

The opening of scattered and closed data sources facilitates the cross-linking of bibliographic metadata, thesauruses, classifications and authority data. This paves the way for a wide range of applications. Data analysis processes such as data comparison, clustering, classification and statistical evaluation can for example be used to link data sets, transfer cataloguing information relating to similar works or obtain information from external sources to enrich data records. Clusters of similar works can be displayed to facilitate the adoption of subject cataloguing metadata or authority data links from other items in the cluster.

Where do the metadata come from, and how often are they updated?

Culturegraph currently contains more than 230 million bibliographic data records – and the number is increasing daily. Since 2019, the metadata have been updated on a daily basis in synergy with the Combined Consortial Library Index (Gemeinsame Verbünde-Index -GVI) for interlibrary lending, whose data dumps are reused.

Culturegraph encompasses the metadata held by the German National Library and the library networks in Germany and Austria:

• German National Library (DNB)
• Bavarian Library Network (BVB)
• Common Library Network (GBV)
• University Library Centre of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia (hbz)
• Hessian Library Information System (hebis)
• Cooperative Library Network Berlin-Brandenburg (KOBV)
• Austrian Library Network and Service ltd (OBVSG)
• South West German Library Network (SWB)

Detailed information on the number of data records and their origin are available here.

What do we use Culturegraph for?

The extensive Culturegraph holdings are used to cluster works and open up possibilities for data enrichment, data analysis and other types of use:

• Links to authority data for persons taken from clusters of works in Culturegraph are enriched daily in the DNB's holdings and placed at the disposal of library networks once a month.
• A process for importing subject cataloguing characteristics (e.g. classification numbers, subject headings) from clusters of works is currently being developed.
• Comparisons of the annual ORCiD dumps with the publications included in Culturegraph identify ORCiD IDs in need of enrichment in bibliographic data records or GND authority data for persons.
• The clustering of manifestations consisting solely of identical editions by the same publisher aims to help find publications which are not yet available at the German National Library.
• Manifestation clustering is also used to transfer full sets of personal information to bibliographic data records which previously contained none.
• Statistical evaluations of all holdings are performed for a variety of purposes (e.g. to identify sets of multi-part monographs, preserve holdings and identify collections of children's and juvenile literature)

How can I use Culturegraph?

The Culturegraph Hub is accessible for everyone and offers insights into the Culturegraph holdings which are updated on a daily basis; it also displays the results of the work clustering carried out in Culturegraph and shows links between individual titles. Work clustering involves the aggregation of various editions, reprints and translations using a work concept based on the IFLA-LRM definition.

The results of the work clustering activity are made available free of charge at https://data.dnb.de/culturegraph/ and can be reused without restrictions. You will find information about the current standing of the data after clicking on the download link in the respective data description.

Where can I find information about the software?

Culturegraph is operated by the German National Library; the results of the analytical and linking work can be accessed through multiple library networks. The German National Library's data management team is responsible for the software architecture and software development.

The source code is available through github.com.

Further information

• Glagla-Dietz, Stephanie; Grund-Davidov, Stefan; Habermann, Nicole; Vorndran, Angela: Personen in GND und Titeldaten – Vorschläge, Anreicherungen und Verknüpfungen, o-bib. Das Offene Bibliotheksjournal (2024), 11(1), pp. 1-17.
• Vorndran, Angela; Grund, Stefan: Metadata Sharing – How to Transfer Metadata Information among Work Cluster Members, in: Cataloging & Classification Quarterly, Volume 59(8) (2021), pp. 757-774.
• Vorndran, Angela: Hervorholen, was in unseren Daten steckt! Mehrwerte durch Analysen großer Bibliotheksdatenbestände, in: o-bib. Das Offene Bibliotheksjournal 4 (2018), pp. 166–18

Terms of use and provision

The library network data can be used subject to the relevant regulations.

Detailed information on terms of use and provision of DNB metadata is given here.