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What is metadata? “Data about data” “The term 'metadata' commonly refers to any data that aids in the identification, description and location of networked electronic resources.”* *Hudgins, Jean, Grace Agnew, and Elizabeth Brown. 1999. Getting mileage out of metadata: Applications for the library. Chicago: American Library Association. p. 1. 12/16/04-12/17/04 L520 Fall 2004
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Metadata
Jenn RileyMetadata Librarian
IU Digital Library Program
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What is metadata?
“Data about data” “The term 'metadata' commonly refers to any
data that aids in the identification, description and location of networked electronic resources.”*
*Hudgins, Jean, Grace Agnew, and Elizabeth Brown. 1999. Getting mileage out of metadata: Applications for the library. Chicago: American Library Association. p. 1.
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More definition
Other characteristics Structure Control
Origin Machine-generated Human-generated
In practice, the term often covers data and meta-metadata
Used in many different environments
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What is a metadata schema?
A formally-defined set of data elements
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Some uses of metadata By information specialists
Describing non-traditional materials Cataloging Web sites Navigating digital objects Managing digital objects long-term Managing corporate assets
By novices Preparing Web sites for search engines Eprints Managing personal CD collections
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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 fundamental
cataloging principles in non-MARC environments Metadata created in many different environments
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Creating metadata
HTML <meta> tags Spreadsheets Databases XML Digital library content management systems
ContentDM Greenstone
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Levels of control
Data structure standards (e.g., MARC) Data content standards (e.g., AACR2r) Very few metadata standards include
information analogue to specifying “chief source of information”
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When there’s no data content standard…
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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 Description Discovery
Some common general schemas MARC MARCXML MODS Dublin Core
LOTS of domain-specific schemas
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Three similar descriptive metadata formats
MARC[example]
MARCXML[example]
MODS[example]
Record format Binary XML XML
Field labels Numeric Numeric Text
Reliance on AACR Strong Strong Implied
Common method of
creationBy specialists By derivation
By specialists and by
derivation
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Dublin Core (1)
15-element set “Core” across all knowledge domains No element required All elements repeatable Extensible 1:1 principle
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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
Sample record
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Vocabulary encoding schemes
TGM I TGM II TGN GeoNet AAT
LCSH LCNAF DCMI Type MIME Types …etc.
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Syntax encoding schemes
AACR2r 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 Multiple copies of same bibliographic item Multiple pages within item Grouping of pages into sections Multiple sizes of each page
METS is the current primary schema
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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
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Crosswalks (2)
Can be in many formats Logical sets of rules [example] Actual code [example]
Cornell working on registry See: Kurth, Martin, David Ruddy and Nathan Rupp. (2004)
“Repurposing MARC metadata: using digital project experience to develop a metadata management design.” Library Hi Tech 22/2 (2004): 153 - 165
Often need to tweak a generic crosswalk for a specific implementation
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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
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So why should I care? Because 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
Administrators – your staff are going to be increasingly interested in metadata issues, and they’ll need training
Public librarians – you are very Internet-focused Corporate librarians– you often deal with non-MARC
environments School librarians – integration of library materials into
instructional environments
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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 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.!
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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 Likes to learn on the job Excellent communication skills Good at writing detailed documentation Experience with file formats for still images, audio, and video Familiarity with one or more scripting/programming languages;
Perl is useful Subject expertise where required Understanding of RDF (maybe)
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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!
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Further information
[email protected] These presentation slides:
http://www.dlib.indiana.edu/~jenlrile/presentations/slis/04fall/l520/l520.ppt
Metadata librarians listserv: <http://metadatalibrarians.monarchos.com>
Priscilla Caplan: Metadata Fundamentals for all Librarians, 2003
