Sven Lieber
Sven Lieber works as data manager at The Royal Library of Belgium (KBR), where he supports the improvement of data quality, mainly by using computational methods and Linked Data. Sven is currently involved in the research infrastructure project MetaBelgica and the research project BELTRANS. For both projects, Sven helps to make data available according to the FAIR principles. He studied Computer Science at the University of Freiburg in Germany and pursued a PhD related to Knowledge Graphs at the University of Ghent in Belgium, where he was also involved in several interdisciplinary research projects at the IDLab research group
Sessions
Implementing persistent identifiers (PIDs) involves more than assigning hyperlinks to records. It also supports the broader goal of keeping knowledge connected across systems, workflows, and users. This requires a structured approach that takes into account existing identifier systems, technical infrastructure, and long-term governance. This session presents a practical case based on the introduction of ARK identifiers at the Royal Library of Belgium (KBR). It outlines the mapping of the existing identifier landscape, how implementation choices can be evaluated, and how migration from non-persistent identifiers can be managed. Attention is also given to maintaining stable references, signalling changes in records for humans and machines, and aligning identifiers with both digital systems and physical workflows to ensure that knowledge remains connected and accessible over time. The session offers a practice-oriented perspective on developing a PID strategy that supports sustainability, access, and institutional responsibilities over time.
Persistent identifiers are designed to provide stable references to entities and to keep knowledge connected across systems, yet in practice there may be justified restrictions on which data can be publicly exposed. This creates a tension between persistence, transparency, and access control.
In the MetaBelgica project, four Belgian Federal Scientific Institutes collaboratively manage and connect cultural heritage reference data across institutional boundaries in an internal Wikibase instance. This talk presents two complementary perspectives. First, it shows how an off-the-shelf PID infrastructure can be realised by combining Wikibase with its stable entity identifiers and built-in mechanisms for handling change, with Archival Resource Key (ARK) identifiers as resolvable external identifiers.
Second, it reflects on how this approach is adapted in a setting with restricted data, where only selected entities and properties are exposed while internal metadata remains hidden. This highlights practical design choices around identifier resolution and access control.