Introduction to Metadata

Jenn Riley

Metadata Librarian

IU Digital Library Program

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Many definitions of metadata

“Data about data” “Structured information about an information

resource of any media type or format.” (Caplan)

“Structured information that describes, explains, locates, or otherwise makes it easier to retrieve, use, or manage an information resource.” (NISO)

…

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More definition, in libraries

Structure Control Origin

Machine-generated Human-generated

The difference between data, metadata, and meta-metadata is often one of perspective

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Some uses of metadata

By information specialists Describing “non-traditional” materials Cataloging Web sites Navigating within digital objects Managing digital objects over the long term

By novices Preparing Web sites for search engines Depositing materials into an institutional repository Managing citation lists iTunes

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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 key cataloging

principles in non-MARC environments Metadata created for many different types of materials

Metadata is NOT only for Internet resources!

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Creating metadata

HTML <meta> tags Spreadsheets Databases XML Library catalogs Digital library content management systems

ContentDM Greenstone

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Types of metadata

Descriptive metadata Administrative metadata

Technical metadata Preservation metadata Rights metadata

Structural metadata

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How metadata is used

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Descriptive metadata

Purpose Discovery Description to support use and interpretation

Some common general schemas MARC MARCXML MODS Dublin Core

LOTS of domain-specific schemas

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MODS

“Metadata Object Description Schema” Developed and maintained by the Library of

Congress Network Development and MARC Standards Office

For encoding bibliographic information Influenced by MARC, but not equivalent Quickly gaining adoption

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Dublin Core (1)

“Core” across all knowledge domains National and international standard

2001: Released as ANSI/NISO Z39.85 2003: Released as ISO 15836

No element required All elements repeatable 1:1 principle

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Dublin Core (2)

Two “flavors” Unqualified – 15 elements 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

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Comparing descriptive metadata formats

MARC[example]

MARCXML[example]

MODS[example]

Dublin Core [DC example]

[QDC 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

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Levels of control

Data structure standards (e.g., MARC) Data content standards (e.g., AACR2r) Controlled vocabularies (e.g., LCSH) Very few metadata standards include a

counterpart to the AACR “chief source of information”

Data content standards

Anglo-American Cataloging Rules, 2nd edition (AACR2)

Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)

Cataloging Cultural Objects (CCO)

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Vocabulary encoding schemes

TGM I TGM II TGN GeoNet AAT

LCSH LCNAF DCMI Type MIME Types …etc.

aka, controlled vocabularies

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Syntax encoding schemes

ISO8601 W3CDTF URI …etc.

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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

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Structural metadata

For creating a logical structure between digital objects Locating the same intellectual content on

multiple representations Noting points of interest within a single

resource Grouping and sequencing multiple files that

make up a logical whole METS is the current primary schema

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How do I pick a metadata format?

Genre/format of materials being described Nature of holding institution Use and audience for the metadata What others in the community are doing Describing analog vs. digitized item Relationships between records Plan for interoperability, including repeatability of

elements More information on handout

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Further information

Come back next class! jenlrile@indiana.edu These presentation slides:

<http://www.dlib.indiana.edu/~jenlrile/presentations/slis/08spring/s504/s504-1.ppt>

Metadata librarians listserv: <http://metadatalibrarians.monarchos.com>

Priscilla Caplan: Metadata Fundamentals for all Librarians, 2003