The web is changing from a web of documents to a web of data; from a web that can be read by humans, to one that can be read by machines. These are fascinating advances for anyone interested in the changing nature of the web and the way we access information. The technologies being forged in this new landscape will provide a host of opportunities to those wanting to shape the information landscape of the future. This is a comprehensive introduction to the emerging web of data and the semantic web, exploring technologies including APIs, microformats and linked data. David Stuart's topical commentary and practical examples drawn from the international LIS community explore how information professionals are harnessing the power of this new phenomenon to inform strategy and become facilitators of access to data. The key topics covered include: open data; the semantic web and embedded semantics; data silos; libraries and the web of data; and the future of the librarian and the semantic web. This is essential reading for library managers and information architects in academic, special and public libraries, LIS students and academics and those interested in the future of libraries. It will also be an indispensable guide to the web for information scientists, computer scientists, web and software developers.

Table of Contents

* open data * The semantic web and embedded semantics * data silos * libraries and the web of data * the future of the librarian and the semantic web.

About the Author

David Stuart is an independent web analyst and consultant and a former practitioner and academic with a PhD in webometrics. He regularly writes in professional and academic journals on the web, Web 2.0 technologies and libraries on the web.