Metadata and Digital Libraries M. SURULINATHI Assistant Librarian

Metadata and Digital LibrariesMetadata and Digital Libraries

M. SURULINATHIM. SURULINATHIAssistant LibrarianAssistant Librarian

IntroductionIntroduction• Metadata offers a key approach for Metadata offers a key approach for

organizing, managing, preserving digital organizing, managing, preserving digital material and to support search and retrieval material and to support search and retrieval (resource discovery) and inter-operability.(resource discovery) and inter-operability.

• We need to understand: We need to understand: • what is metadata, what is metadata, • types of metadata, types of metadata, • uses of metadata, uses of metadata, • metadata schemes (standards), metadata schemes (standards), • examples and applicationsexamples and applications

What is Metadata?What is Metadata?

• Data about dataData about data

• Metadata is structured information that describes, Metadata is structured information that describes, explains, locates, or otherwise makes it easier to explains, locates, or otherwise makes it easier to retrieve, use, or manage an information resource. retrieve, use, or manage an information resource. Metadata is often called data about data or information Metadata is often called data about data or information about information.about information.

• Structured informationStructured information• Describes, explains, locates an information resourceDescribes, explains, locates an information resource• Makes it easier to retrieve, use or manage an Makes it easier to retrieve, use or manage an

information resourceinformation resource

META DATAMETA DATA

•

Digital material

Documents Audio

Video Database

Author: …Title: ….Subject: …Source type: …Format: …….



What Does Metadata Describe?What Does Metadata Describe?

• PapersPapers• ArticlesArticles• ImagesImages• SoundSound• CollectionsCollections• User profilesUser profiles

Types of MetadataTypes of Metadata• DescriptiveDescriptive

• Purpose: Resource discovery and identificationPurpose: Resource discovery and identification• Ex.: Title, abstract, author, URL, keywords, etc.Ex.: Title, abstract, author, URL, keywords, etc.

• Administrative & Rights ManagementAdministrative & Rights Management• Purpose: Help manage a resourcePurpose: Help manage a resource• Ex.: Who created and when, who can access, content Ex.: Who created and when, who can access, content

format, rights information, etc.format, rights information, etc.

• Structural metadataStructural metadata• Purpose: Document structurePurpose: Document structure• Ex.: Chapter, section, paragraphEx.: Chapter, section, paragraph

Metadata Schemes and Element SetsMetadata Schemes and Element Sets

• Dublin CoreDublin Core

• MARCMARC

• Metadata Encoding and Transmission Standard (METS)Metadata Encoding and Transmission Standard (METS)

• Metadata Object Description Schema (MODS)Metadata Object Description Schema (MODS)

• Learning Object MetadataLearning Object Metadata

• The Encoded Archival Description (EAD)The Encoded Archival Description (EAD)

• MPEG Multimedia MetadataMPEG Multimedia Metadata

Dublin Core – 15 ElementsDublin Core – 15 Elements• Title=Title=”Metadata Demystified””Metadata Demystified”• Creator=Creator=”Brand, Amy””Brand, Amy”• ContributorContributor• Subject=Subject=”metadata””metadata”• Description=Description=”Presents an overview of metadata”Presents an overview of metadata

conventions in publishing.”conventions in publishing.”• Publisher=Publisher=”The Sheridan Press””The Sheridan Press”• Date=Date=”2003-07"”2003-07"• Source Type=Source Type=”Text””Text”• SourceSource• Format=Format=”application/pdf””application/pdf”• Identifier=Identifier=”http://www.niso.org/standards/resources/”http://www.niso.org/standards/resources/

Metadata_Demystified.pdf”Metadata_Demystified.pdf”• Language=Language=”en””en”• Etc., Etc.,

Metadata Example: GSDL Digital Metadata Example: GSDL Digital Library CollectionsLibrary Collections

• Use of Metadata for Browse and Use of Metadata for Browse and SearchSearch

• Use of Metadata for Document Use of Metadata for Document Structuring (Hierarchical Browsing)Structuring (Hierarchical Browsing)

DC at Greenstone DC at Greenstone

A GSDL DL Collection: Metadata Browse & SearchA GSDL DL Collection: Metadata Browse & Search

Metadata Example: D space softwareMetadata Example: D space softwareContext: Content management in an academic intranetContext: Content management in an academic intranet

Metadata Display WindowMetadata Display Window

Fulltext ArticleFulltext Article

MARC at LOC Online CatalogueMARC at LOC Online Catalogue

Uses of MetadataUses of Metadata

• Resource discoveryResource discovery• Finding, searching and identifying resourcesFinding, searching and identifying resources• Field-based browse/ searchField-based browse/ search

• Organizing electronic resourcesOrganizing electronic resources• Ex.: Internet resource catalogues (web resource Ex.: Internet resource catalogues (web resource

directories), Institutional publication archives, intranet directories), Institutional publication archives, intranet content managementcontent management

• InteroperabilityInteroperability• Exchange of data between systems – metadata Exchange of data between systems – metadata

standards facilitate cross-searching and sharing standards facilitate cross-searching and sharing (metadata harvesting – OAI protocol)(metadata harvesting – OAI protocol)

Uses of MetadataUses of Metadata

• Digital identification, Bibliographic controlDigital identification, Bibliographic control• Uniquely describe, identify & locate the digital Uniquely describe, identify & locate the digital

object referred by the metadataobject referred by the metadata• PURL, DOI (Cross Ref), Open URLPURL, DOI (Cross Ref), Open URL

• Archiving and preservationArchiving and preservation• Data elements to track the lineage, physical Data elements to track the lineage, physical

characteristics, etc.characteristics, etc.• Efforts are on to define metadata schemes for Efforts are on to define metadata schemes for

digital preservation (e.g. ISO’s Open Archival digital preservation (e.g. ISO’s Open Archival Information System OAIS)Information System OAIS)

ConclusionConclusion• Most early metadata standards have focused on Most early metadata standards have focused on

the descriptive elements needed for discovery, the descriptive elements needed for discovery, identification, and retrieval. As metadata identification, and retrieval. As metadata initiatives developed, administrative metadata, initiatives developed, administrative metadata, especially in the rights and preservation areas was especially in the rights and preservation areas was further emphasized.further emphasized.

• Technical metadata is one area that still does Technical metadata is one area that still does not get much attention in metadata schemas. The not get much attention in metadata schemas. The effective exchange and use of the digital objects effective exchange and use of the digital objects described by the metadata often requires described by the metadata often requires knowledge of specific technical aspects of the knowledge of specific technical aspects of the objects beyond its filename and type.objects beyond its filename and type.

ConclusionConclusion

• The World Wide Web has created a The World Wide Web has created a revolution in the accessibility of information. revolution in the accessibility of information. The development and application of metadata The development and application of metadata represents a major improvement in the way represents a major improvement in the way information can be discovered and used.information can be discovered and used.

• New technologies, standards, and best New technologies, standards, and best practices are continually advancing the practices are continually advancing the applications for metadata.applications for metadata.

ReferenceReference

• http://www.http://www.nisoniso.org/publications/press/.org/publications/press/UnderstandingMetadataUnderstandingMetadata..pdfpdf

• http://www.ncsi.iisc.ernet.in/raja/is206/topic-1http://www.ncsi.iisc.ernet.in/raja/is206/topic-10.htm0.htm

• http://digital-scholarship.org/digitalkoans/2008http://digital-scholarship.org/digitalkoans/2008/04/14/metadata-for-digital-libraries-state-of-t/04/14/metadata-for-digital-libraries-state-of-the-art-and-future-directions-published/he-art-and-future-directions-published/

• http://www.http://www.fgdcfgdc..govgov/metadata/geospatial-metadata-standards/metadata/geospatial-metadata-standards