Using SKOS and FOAF for Name Authority in the Institutional Repository

Name ambiguity is a widespread problem in Institutional Repository metadata. A lack of authority control, combined with often user-submitted metadata, leads to individuals and organizations appearing in a variety of name permutations in a single system. Equally damaging is namespace collision—distinct entities referred to by a single name. While repository software has improved in its ability to utilize externally maintained name authority databases, the range of names used by repositories often expands beyond what is controlled by traditional library sources.

Using SKOS and FOAF, Oregon State University Libraries is creating minimal but extensible Linked Data name authority records for use with our institutional repository. These records can be locally maintained and are interoperable with other Linked Data authority systems, such as id.loc.gov and VIAF. This paper details the approach to authority control we are establishing based on our Linked Data model and the challenges we have faced in disambiguating existing metadata.