Books and periodicals are categorized and held in libraries. Artifacts are categorized in museums and galleries. Reports and papers are indexed in archives. Patents are registered and indexed in patent listings. These places all individually store vast amounts of information. And, yet we see every year so many are closed down due to lack of readership and finances. One thing that such places lack is integration of resources and accessibility at a global scale. If only such places could be connected globally so they could be reached over the internet by students, researchers, and any one looking for information. Book publishing is a foregone and struggling business. People are now looking to ebooks, online, and flexibility of reading on handheld devices. It seems only natural that there are multiple gains that can be achieved from mutual integration of resources between such organizations. Not to mention the level of cost savings that could be made, the generation of a collective finance option to keep such organizations profitable, and merit their future existence. Such places are often the cornerstone of learning outside of schools and universities. We need to support them before they all start to crumble into history. I feel linked data and semantic web is the answer to making it all possible. Semantic web is a natural fit for library and archiving and linked data is a natural fit for making the resources all connected. Even so far as allowing for advertising revenue and subscription model could be achieved from such a collaborative network which brings together researchers, students, and all walks of learners alike into one easily accessible network of resources. Just imagine the amount of searchable information that could be achieved and the level of categorized information made available to all without ever having to physically visit the organization. It seems a plausible option for so many struggling organizations. At same time it means knowledge could be reached without bounds. A library ontology could be generated that establishes a network of shared resources for all. Most organizations should not hold any reservations to such an idea as it would mean a larger accessibility by subscription therefore more financial gains plus they will all get used a lot more. It seems only in time such endeavors are likely to occur in near future as semantic web and linked data progress into the mainstream use over the internet and define the ubiquitous aspect to technology.
