We are pleased to announce that the Libraries Deanship in United Arab Emirates University has joined the Virtual International Authority File (VIAF).

Virtual International Authority File is a service, which provides libraries and library users with convenient access to the world s major name authority files. VIAF Contributors regularly supply authority data that VIAF matches, links, and groups. All descriptions for a given entity are merged into a cluster that brings together the different names for that entity. This service allows researchers to identify names, locations, works, and expressions while preserving regional preferences for language, spelling, and script. 

It combines multiple name authority files into a single OCLC-hosted name authority service. The goal of the service is to lower the cost and increase the utility of library authority files by matching and linking widely used authority files and making that information available online. 

The VIAF provides unprecedented opportunities for members to create a community of interest in a specific field. It also plays a major role in linking data with other international projects: Like DBPEDIA and ISNI.

For more information, click VIAF