Through the Dutch Interoperability Network (DIN), library colleagues exchange ideas with experts from other universities and national organisations. UM Library plays an active role in shaping this community by contributing to discussions on interoperability in research and sharing knowledge through posts and articles aimed at colleagues who support researchers, such as data stewards and research data managers. In addition, the network also aims to connect researchers from different disciplines who are active in interoperability by inviting them to present and share their work. A recent highlight was a presentation by one of UM’s researchers (Dr Szilvia Zörgő) about Introducing an Interoperability Standard for Qualitative Data, during the October monthly meeting that sparked strong interest among participants and was received with great enthusiasm. We also help lead the Linked data in research working group established within Landelijk Coördinatiepunt Research Data Management (LCRDM) which aims to focus on strengthening the use of Linked Data in research Linked Data connects structured datasets on the web using shared standards such as Uniform Resource Identifiers (URIs) and the Resource Description Framework (RDF), helping researchers discover, integrate, and reuse data across different sources.

In the Dutch Digital Heritage (NDE) Linked Data Group, the UM Library takes part alongside institutions such as the National Library of the Netherlands (KB) and the Rijksmuseum. The group brings together professionals working with Linked Data in the heritage domain to exchange knowledge and showcase ongoing projects. A recent highlight was a presentation from UM Library, demonstrating how the library connects its Digital Collections to a system designed for storing and querying linked data to make collection data searchable and linkable across systems — an important step towards interoperability and data reuse. By joining and co-leading these national initiatives, the UM Library contributes to building a more open, connected, and future-proof research environment, giving UM researchers easier access to valuable, reusable data. On the UM side, we also maintain close contact with researchers and are exploring new ways to share knowledge and strengthen the community around Linked Data and interoperability — for example, through internal channels, events, and training opportunities. Updates on these initiatives will follow soon.