“Sharing Authority”: Expanding Access and Participation in Norm Data Creation for Inclusive Knowledge Ecosystems

The IFLA Advisory Committee on Standards hosted a symposium on metadata, with the theme “Metadata Standards Matter: Building a Sustainable Future for Information” at the National Library of Greece, Athens, on 19 March 2025. This presentation falls under the Technology Matters subtheme which focuses on the technological advancements that support metadata standards and emerging technologies, including AI. The presentation integrates the GND’s strategic developments, emphasizing how shared authority in metadata can create more inclusive and accessible knowledge systems while balancing authority and openness. Since 2012, the GND has served over 1,000 libraries across Austria, Germany, and Switzerland as a reliable, open-access authority file. In 2017, the Standardization Board decided to shift toward an inclusive knowledge ecosystem. The 2018 six-year GND4C research initiative further propelled this transformation, creating a holistic infrastructure that actively integrates these new participants, enhancing both the richness and diversity of authority data contributions. This project also democratizes knowledge management, allowing more diverse perspectives within authority data and addressing the critical need for transparency in data practices, particularly as artificial intelligence applications increasingly rely on these data networks.