Connecting with Wikidata
The LUDAP shared authority file project was conceived from the outset with open data and linked heritage principles at its core. A natural extension of this approach has been our use of Wikidata as a rich source of Linked Open Data relating to history, culture, and heritage. By linking our internal records to corresponding Wikidata items, and using these alignments to compare and complement our own data, we have been able to significantly enrich and enhance our records with:
- Additional identifiers, linking to other authorities (like ISNI, GND, etc.)
- More precise data
- The identification of Possible errors in our own data
Now that LUDAP.lu is live, we also wanted to establish the links in the opposite direction, and contribute our data and references back to Wikidata. The first step was requesting our own LUDAP ID as a property on Wikidata. This was accepted by the community, making the LUDAP now a recognized “External identifier” on Wikidata!
The next step was adding this external identifier to all (currently 656) persons on Wikidata who also appear on LUDAP.lu. This links Wikidata items directly to the public record on LUDAP.lu.We also explored how we could contribute to improving information on Wikidata. In doing so, we identified 50 records where LUDAP holds verified data on a person’s birth or death that differs from the information currently recorded on Wikidata. As a pilot exercise, we updated these entries to help correct and enhance information relating to Luxembourg’s heritage. Each update includes a reference to LUDAP.lu, where the underlying primary and secondary sources can be consulted and verified.
Now that this connection has been established, there is still significant potential for further work. In collaboration with the community, we will continue to develop ways to enrich, improve, and exchange data between LUDAP and Wikidata in a truly bidirectional manner.