Library data has been designed to be read and interpreted by the librarians and users who are the end users of the catalog. Today's data, however, needs to be managed and interpreted by computers and integrated into myriad applications that are part of the growing web of services on the Internet. In particular, the Semantic Web technologies being developed put a new emphasis on linking data from disparate sources. To be part of the linked data network, the library world needs to transform its catalog records into true data.

Library Technology Reports, July 2010 (46:5) From the time that personal computers became ubiquitous, there's been no shortage of "the next big thing" in technology. While some new technologies do prove to be revolutionary, there are plenty that flame out very quickly. Librarians often work with limited financial resources, so when a library invests in a new technology, staff must be confident that they are committing money and effort to something that will be useful in the long-term rather than to an idea with a lot of hype. In the July 2010 issue of Library Technology Reports, Char Booth...