PurposeThis paper aims to provide a report for the seminar on “Global Interoperability and Linked Data” which was held at the University of Florence in Italy from 18‐19 July 2012.Design/methodology/approachThe paper goes beyond a report by introducing the concept of linked data and how it is beneficial to libraries. It is derived mainly from papers presented at the seminar in English as well as other complementary sources.FindingsThe paper reports that linked data in libraries has become a subject of interdisciplinary interest as evidenced by the diversity of participants and presentations at this conference.Originality/valueBased on the experiences presented at the conference, this report concludes by encouraging libraries to build from each other in adopting linked data.