17 November 2020 press release

In collaboration with Wikimedia Deutschland, the German National Library is today publishing the WikiLibrary Manifesto. With this manifesto, the two partners are paving the way towards a future-focused, freely accessible and open Semantic Web. The German National Library is thereby supporting the establishment of a data ecosystem that above all facilitates the sustainable use of cultural and research data.

The WikiLibrary Manifesto is underpinned by the findings of a software analysis conducted by the German National Library on Wikibase as an alternative and user-friendly technical basis for the 8 million data sets of the Integrated Authority File (GND). The evaluation was carried out in close dialogue with other European national libraries that also wish to implement Wikibase. One GND Wikibase entry offers the potential for numerous new connections and expansions. In addition, Wikibase can be used to provide access to the GND for different stakeholders for whom library-based editing interfaces do not appear suitable.

The manifesto is aimed at all institutions that are interested in a comprehensive data ecosystem based on the FAIR Data Principles for the simplified recording, linking and cataloguing of knowledge.

Further information

• WikiLibrary Manifesto on the Wikibase project page: https://www.wikimedia.de/projects/wikilibrary-manifest/
• Integrated Authority File GND: https://www.dnb.de/gnd
• “GND meets Wikibase” project: https://wiki.dnb.de/pages/viewpage.action?pageId=167019461
• FAIR Data Principles: https://www.forschungsdaten.org/index.php/FAIR_data_principles
  

Background

The German National Library collects, documents and archives all written publications and sound recordings issued in Germany since 1913 together with works in German and about Germany published worldwide; it then makes them available to the public. Together with its national and international partners, it develops innovative library standards as the basis for a world of knowledge that has no borders. In dialogue with other institutions, the German National Library is involved in projects designed to preserve and digitalise cultural heritage and make it visible.

The Integrated Authority File (GND) is a service facilitating the collaborative use and administration of authority data. These authority data represent and describe entities, i.e. people, corporate bodies, congresses, geographic entities, specialised terms and works relating to cultural and academic collections. The GND is cooperatively managed by the German National Library, all German-language library unions and their participating libraries, the German Union Catalogue of Serials, and many other institutions.

Wikimedia Deutschland is a non-profit association with over 80,000 members and is dedicated to the promotion of free knowledge. Since its foundation in 2004, the association has been supporting various Wikimedia projects – and Wikipedia in particular. The association works to promote open access to free knowledge, thereby contributing to people’s fundamental right to education. Like its sister projects, Wikipedia is independent, free from advertising and only made possible through the work of volunteers and through donations.

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