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A Whirlwind Tour Through Part of the Metadata Landscape
Jenn Riley
Metadata Librarian
IU Digital Library Program
4/26/06 L520 Spring 2006 2
Many definitions of metadata
“Data about data” “Structured information about an information
resource of any media type or format.” (Caplan)
“Any data used to aid the identification, description and location of networked electronic resources.” (IFLA)
…
4/26/06 L520 Spring 2006 3
Refining a definition
Other characteristics Structure Control
Origin Machine-generated Human-generated
In practice, the term often covers data and meta-metadata
4/26/06 L520 Spring 2006 4
Some uses of metadata
By information specialists Describing non-traditional materials Cataloging Web sites Navigating digital objects Managing digital objects over the long term Managing corporate assets
By novices Preparing Web sites for search engines Describing Eprints Managing personal CD collections
4/26/06 L520 Spring 2006 5
Metadata and cataloging
Depends on what you mean by: metadata, and cataloging!
But, in general: Metadata is broader in scope than cataloging Much metadata creation takes place outside of libraries Good metadata practitioners use fundamental
cataloging principles in non-MARC environments Metadata created for many different types of materials
Metadata is NOT only for Internet resources!
4/26/06 L520 Spring 2006 6
Creating metadata
HTML <meta> tags Spreadsheets Databases XML Library catalogs Digital library content management systems
ContentDM Greenstone
4/26/06 L520 Spring 2006 7
Types of metadata
Descriptive metadata Administrative metadata
Technical metadata Preservation metadata Rights metadata
Structural metadata
4/26/06 L520 Spring 2006 9
Descriptive metadata
Purpose Description Discovery
Some common general schemas MARC MARCXML MODS Dublin Core
LOTS of domain-specific schemas
4/26/06 L520 Spring 2006 10
MODS
“Metadata Object Description Schema” Developed and maintained by the Library of
Congress For encoding bibliographic information Influenced by MARC, but not equivalent Usable for any format of materials Quickly gaining adoption
4/26/06 L520 Spring 2006 11
Dublin Core (1)
15-element set “Core” across all knowledge domains No element required All elements repeatable Extensible 1:1 principle
4/26/06 L520 Spring 2006 12
Dublin Core (2)
Two “flavors” Unqualified Qualified
Additional elements Element refinements Encoding schemes (vocabulary and syntax) All qualifiers must follow “dumb-down” principle
Unqualified DC required for sharing metadata via the Open Archives Initiative
4/26/06 L520 Spring 2006 13
Comparing descriptive metadata formats
MARC[example]
MARCXML[example]
MODS[example]
Dublin Core [example]
Record format
Binary
(ISO 2709)XML XML
RDF, XML, HTML, et al.
Field labels
Numeric Numeric Text Text
Reliance on AACR
Strong Strong Implied None
Common method of
creation
By specialists
By derivation
By specialists
and by derivation
By novices and by
specialists
4/26/06 L520 Spring 2006 14
How do I pick a metadata format?
Genre of materials being described Format of materials being described Nature of holding institution Robustness needed for the given materials and users What others in the community are doing Describing original vs. digitized item Relationships between records Plan for interoperability, including repeatability of
elements More information on handout
4/26/06 L520 Spring 2006 15
Levels of control
Data structure standards (e.g., MARC) Data content standards (e.g., AACR2r) Very few metadata standards include a
counterpart to the AACR “chief source of information”
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Vocabulary encoding schemes
TGM I TGM II TGN GeoNet AAT
LCSH LCNAF DCMI Type MIME Types …etc.
4/26/06 L520 Spring 2006 19
Technical metadata
One type of administrative metadata For recording technical aspects of digital
objects Of use for long-term maintenance of data Some examples:
NISO Z39.87: Data Dictionary – Technical Metadata for Digital Still Images & MIX
Schema for Technical Metadata for Text
4/26/06 L520 Spring 2006 20
Structural metadata
For creating a logical structure between digital objects Multiple copies/versions of same item Multiple pages within item Multiple sizes of each page Meaningful groups of content
METS is the current primary schema
4/26/06 L520 Spring 2006 21
Thinking about shareable metadata
Metadata is a view of the resource Records to be shared will be different than
records in your local environment Standards promote interoperability Appropriate formats Appropriate content Appropriate context
4/26/06 L520 Spring 2006 22
Crosswalks (1)
For transforming between metadata formats Usually refers to transforming between
content standards rather than structure standards, but not always
Mapping from more robust format to less robust format effective; mapping from simpler format to more robust format less so
Good practice to create and store most robust metadata format possible, then create other views for specific needs
4/26/06 L520 Spring 2006 23
Crosswalks (2)
Can be in many formats Logical sets of rules [example] Actual code [example]
Often need to tweak a generic crosswalk for a specific implementation Accommodating local practice Adding institution-specific information Adding context not available locally
4/26/06 L520 Spring 2006 24
So why should I care about metadata?
Metadata issues are right now an essential part of librarianship Cataloging librarians – it’s increasingly becoming your job Reference librarians – metadata schema affect search strategies,
and you’ll have patrons who want to know about metadata Collection development librarians – we’re increasingly
purchasing data rather than physical objects, and this data needs to be managed
Archivists & special collections librarians – emerging metadata standards are specifically designed for your materials and needs
Administrators – you need to fit metadata work in the appropriate places in your organization; your staff will need training
Public librarians – must both make use of and provide metadata for your place in the Web environment
Corporate librarians– you often deal with non-MARC environments
School librarians – integration of library materials into instruction
4/26/06 L520 Spring 2006 25
Qualifications of a metadata librarian
Experience with many different metadata standards Thorough knowledge of cataloging practice, including subject
analysis Can use various XML technologies: XSLT, XPath, DTDs, XML
Schema Experience with file formats for still images, audio, video, and
other objects needing management Familiarity with one or more scripting/programming languages;
Perl is useful Subject expertise where required Good at writing detailed documentation Likes to learn on the job Excellent communication skills …etc.
4/26/06 L520 Spring 2006 26
What does a metadata librarian do?
Create metadata (including in MARC) Write procedures, policy, and templates for others creating
metadata Develop long-term metadata strategy Write rules/code for mapping between metadata formats Collaborate with subject/format specialists Perform technical support for metadata creation tools Represent metadata issues on group projects/committees Learn more about everything Teach others about metadata Librarian stuff! Professional development, service, faculty
governance …etc.
4/26/06 L520 Spring 2006 27
Continuing education
Professional literature in many areas Digital libraries Cataloging Subject-specific
Mailing lists in these same areas Conferences
Digital Library Federation JCDL ALA (LITA, ALCTS)
Talk to people!
4/26/06 L520 Spring 2006 28
Further information
jenlrile@indiana.edu These presentation slides:
<http://www.dlib.indiana.edu/~jenlrile/presentations/slis/06spring/l520/l520.ppt>
Metadata librarians listserv: <http://metadatalibrarians.monarchos.com>
Priscilla Caplan: Metadata Fundamentals for all Librarians, 2003
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