Browse and Learn: Using Linked Data Connections for Bias Mitigation and Research

Abstract

When systemically marginalized communities provide their own controlled vocabularies of terms, can those be used effectively for browsing and researching in information systems that do not use those same vocabularies? Join us as we share ongoing work to use connections between the Homosaurus, an LGBTQ+ Linked Data vocabulary and the Library of Congress Subject Headings to enhance discovery of relevant resources in a library catalog. We will explore how this can aid education about terminology and possibly help to mitigate biases on the part of researchers and the library catalog. We will share the proof-of-concept web application, the work completed so far, and discuss further planned work and possible future contributions.