PhiloBiblon Embraces the Future with Transition to Linked Open Data
Exciting changes are underway as the renowned biobibliographic database, PhiloBiblon, takes a giant leap forward in accessibility and interconnectivity. The project is transitioning to the world of Linked Open Data (LOD), a transformative shift that will drastically enhance how researchers access and utilize its rich collection of medieval and Renaissance romance texts.
Data Migration and New Platforms
This migration involves a phased data dump and platform transition.
The BETA database (Spanish Bibliography of Ancient Texts) will be the first to make the move, shifting to FactGrid:PhiloBiblon starting January 1, 2025. BITECA will follow suit on February 1, 2025, while BITAGAP will be accessible on FactGrid:PhiloBiblon starting March 1, 2025.
While this transition is underway, the current PhiloBiblon databases, hosted at Pompeu Fabra University, will be frozen. Starting November 2023, these sites will change to “historical” snapshots, providing a record of the databases’ pre-transition state.
From March 1, 2025, FactGrid:PhiloBiblon will be ready for full operation, allowing researchers seamless access to the data while the development team refines the new PhiloBiblon UI – an intuitive search engine designed to optimize the user experience.
Unlocking New Possibilities with Linked Open Data
“These are necessary steps for the complete transfer of PhiloBiblon to the world of Linked Open Data (LOD),” explains Charles B. Faulhaber of the University of California, Berkeley.
The move to LOD is a game-changer. This innovative format allows data to be interconnected and readily shared across diverse platforms and disciplines.
A Visual Journey Through PhiloBiblon’s Evolution
Patricia García Sánchez-Migallon, a key figure in this transformative project, has created a dynamic poster that vividly illustrates PhiloBiblon’s journey into the LOD realm.
This engaging visual aid clarifies the technical evolution of PhiloBiblon, delves into the LOD configuration, and outlines the project’s roadmap.
The poster was presented at CLARIAH-DAY: Conference on Digital Humanities and Artificial Intelligence on November 22, 2023, at the National Library of Spain.
It can be viewed here
A Collaborative Effort
The PhiloBiblon project,
“PhiloBiblon: From Siloed Databases to Linked Open Data via Wikibase,” is supported by a two-year grant (2023 – 2025) from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Dr. García Sánchez-Migallon now works with the CLARIAH-CM office at the Complutense University of Madrid. CLARIAH is a consortium uniting two major European digital infrastructure projects for the human sciences: CLARIN (Common Language Resources and Technology Infrastructure) and FROMAH (Digital Research Infrastructure for the Arts and Humanities).
How will the transition to Linked Open Data impact the accessibility and analysis of medieval and Renaissance romance texts in PhiloBiblon?
PhiloBiblon Embraces the Future with Transition to Linked Open Data
Exciting changes are underway as the renowned biobibliographic database, PhiloBiblon, takes a giant leap forward in accessibility and interconnectivity. The project is transitioning to the world of Linked Open Data (LOD), a transformative shift that will drastically enhance how researchers access and utilize its rich collection of medieval and Renaissance romance texts.
Interview with [Guest Name], Project Lead
**Editor:** Welcome, [Guest Name]. This transition to Linked Open Data sounds like a big move for PhiloBiblon. Can you tell us more about what this means for researchers?
**Guest:** Absolutely! This is a very exciting time for us. Linked Open Data is a revolutionary way to structure and share information. By moving PhiloBiblon to this format, we’re making its vast collection of medieval and Renaissance romance texts more accessible and interconnected than ever before. Researchers will be able to easily search, analyze, and link this data with other resources, leading to new discoveries and insights. [[1](https://apps.neh.gov/publicquery/AwardDetail.aspx?gn=PW-290580-23)]
**Editor:** You mentioned a phased approach to this transition. Can you walk us through the timeline?
**Guest:** We’re moving strategically to ensure a smooth transition for our users. The BETA database (Spanish Bibliography of Ancient Texts) will be the first to migrate to FactGrid:PhiloBiblon on January 1st, 2025. BITECA will follow on February 1st, and BITAGAP will be accessible on FactGrid:PhiloBiblon by March 1st. During this period, the existing PhiloBiblon databases will be frozen, becoming “historical” snapshots starting November 2023, preserving the pre-transition state of the data.
**Editor:** That’s helpful to know.
What are some of the specific advantages of using FactGrid as the platform for PhiloBiblon?
**Guest:** FactGrid is a powerful platform specifically designed for historical research. Its Wikibase foundation allows us to create a knowledge graph that captures the complex relationships between people, texts, and events in medieval and Renaissance romance literature. This makes it much easier for researchers to explore these connections and build a deeper understanding of this fascinating period.
**Editor:** This sounds like a game-changer for the field of medieval and Renaissance studies. Thank you, [Guest Name], for giving us this insight into the future of PhiloBiblon.
