Click here to skip to content

Free Data Services

Latest update:

Users can choose from the following options:

  1. Linked Open BNB
  2. Basic RDF/XML
  3. MARC21 via Z39.50

1. Linked Open BNB

Background

The British Library is developing a version of the British National Bibliography which it is making available as Linked Open Data via a Talis platform.

The initial offering includes published books with future releases extending coverage to include serial publications, multipart works, integrating resources (e.g. loose leaf publications), kits and forthcoming publications.

Data Model & Schema

The data model is available here. [PDF format 122 KB]
[version 1.3, March 2012]

The latest version of the schema has been published here.
The namespace declaration for this schema is xmlns:blt="http://www.bl.uk/schemas/bibliographic/blterms#"

Access to the Linked Open BNB

The subset of the British National Bibliography, covering books published or distributed in the UK since 1950, is currently available at:

SPARQL endpoint: bnb.data.bl.uk/sparql
Describe endpoint: bnb.data.bl.uk/describe
Search service: bnb.data.bl.uk/search & bnb.data.bl.uk/items  

The full triples file is available from the Data Hub. This subset of approximately 2.6 million records generated 84,961,180 triples.

A dump of the RDF/XML raw data (see sample) is available on request from metadata@bl.uk.

Both these files are distributed under a Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication licence. Please note this is subject to the caveats outlined in the Known issues section below.

Links to the following linked open data sources have been provided:
VIAF
LCSH
Lexvo
GeoNames (for country of publication)
MARC country and language codes
Dewey.info
RDF Book Mashup

Current Status

The current offering represents a work in progress.

At this time, the dataset is not guaranteed to be stable; its contents may change at any time without warning as a part of ongoing development

It is our intention to refresh the dataset on a regular basis. We are continuing to work on resolving some known issues (see below) and we welcome further constructive feedback on work to date. Please let us know what you think by contacting us by email at metadata@bl.uk

Additional features:

  1. Links from creators/contributors back to bibliographic resources have been added.
  2. A void:Dataset description has been provided and linked to from within the data.
  3. Books published over time have been added to the original dataset.

Known issues:

  1. Normalisation of certain data elements, e.g. place & agent entities of the publication event is inconsistent.
  2. The linked data API requires some further configuration, e.g. links to the MARC country codes and the MARC language codes have been provided but they do not display yet.
  3. [FIXED] Links to Dewey Info URIs currently do not resolve.
  4. [FIXED] Two foaf properties are mis-spelt.
  5. [FIXED] The label for the bibliographic resource is currently built on the fly; it will be produced as part of the data in future iterations.
  6. [FIXED] We've had to change the URI for the British Library Terms ontology from the draft schema. We are currently preparing a refresh of the data, which will include the correct URI.
  7. The labels for blt:PublicationStartEvent and blt:PublicationEndEvent have mistakenly been omitted.
  8. There is a typo in the referencing of the dewey.info concept scheme.

Further background on the approach taken to create the Linked Open BNB can be found here. We are currently working toward providing more information on the processes and tools used to develop the Linked Open BNB via a dedicated web page.

2. Basic RDF/XML

As part of its work to open its metadata to wider use beyond the traditional library community, the British Library is making copies of some of its datasets available for research purposes. Files are initially being made available in a basic RDF/XML representation and are distributed under a Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication licence.

  • BNB

A sample of the British National Bibliography is available here. The full dataset is available to download from the Data Hub. We intend to upload a refresh every six months.

The full dataset is also available via FTP. This will be updated monthly. Please send your request to metadata@bl.uk.

  • Journal articles

The British Library is currently examining options for making subject specific article metadata (e.g. Biotechnology) available for projects in a similar manner. A sample file covering the topic of Palaeontology is now available for comment here.

The full Palaeontology dataset is available from the Data Hub and via FTP. Please send your request to metadata@bl.uk.

Please note: these versions of the datasets are structured using a more basic form of RDF/XML (e.g. they do not contain URIs) and are not primarily intended for use in a linked data environment.

3. MARC21 via Z39.50

Access to either the British Library's full catalogue of its collections or the British National Bibliography in MARC 21. Users are required to register for the service and agree that any usage will be strictly for non-commercial purposes, such as:

  • Resource discovery
  • Learning, teaching, academic and scientific research or private study
  • Cataloguing or acquisition
  • Provision of information solely about the registered library’s holdings for inclusion in a union catalogue or library inter-lending database
  • Verification of bibliographic information and/or identification of materials for order via interlibrary loan, from document vendors or from other sources from which materials identified may be purchased or otherwise acquired

Please see the full terms and conditions - if you can agree to these, please contact metadata@bl.uk to confirm that you accept them. We will then register you and send out connection details along with a username and password.

In order to access our Z39.50 databases you will need to use a Z39.50 client - these are incorporated in commercial Library Management Systems, or you can choose to install a standalone client such as:

Configuration server settings are also available to assist in setting up connections.

If you just need to access our catalogues online, please go direct to a comprehensive list of available catalogues.

Follow the latest developments about our data services on Twitter at http://twitter.com/BLMetadata or follow BLMetadata.

For further information please contact:

The British Library
Metadata Services
Boston Spa, Wetherby
West Yorkshire
LS23 7BQ
United Kingdom

Email: metadata@bl.uk
Tel: +44 (0) 1937 546548
Fax: +44 (0) 1937 546586

Sections:

This page contains links to Adobe PDF files. Accessibility solutions and free 'Reader' software are available from Adobe.