‘We are here not because we are metadata-breakers; we are here in our efforts to become metadata-makers’

Abstract

This article outlines a Wikidata project undertaken by LSE Library’s Metadata team to enhance the discoverability of a unique set of oral history interviews about the British Suffrage Movement.  The paper outlines each stage of creating linked open data to represent interviews, interviewees and associated entities, and reflects on challenges less familiar to traditional cataloguing practices in RDA and MARC21, including data protection impact assessments, data modelling, URL stability, and creation and enrichment of contextual linked data, including non-LCSH identifiers.  The project explores new ways to interrogate and visualise metadata through SPARQL queries, and highlights opportunities to contribute to Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons.  Reflections on conflict of interest, community engagement, and the evolving role of metadata professionals are shared, alongside early insights into project impact.  The article demonstrates how Wikidata can extend traditional metadata practice, offering new opportunities for collaboration, discovery, and representation.