1. Jenn Riley Metadata Librarian IU Digital Library Program

2. 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 Getting mileage out of metadata: Applications for the library. Chicago: American Library Association. p. 1.
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L520 Fall 2004

3. More definition Other characteristics Origin
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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4. What is a metadata schema?
A formally-defined set of data elements
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5. Some uses of metadata By information specialists By novices
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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6. 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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L520 Fall 2004

7. Creating metadata HTML <meta> tags Spreadsheets Databases XML
Digital library content management systems
ContentDM
Greenstone
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8. 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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9. When there’s no data content standard…
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10. Types of metadata Descriptive metadata Administrative metadata
Technical metadata
Preservation metadata
Rights metadata
Structural metadata
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11. How metadata is used
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12. Descriptive metadata Purpose Some common general schemas
Description
Discovery
Some common general schemas
MARC
MARCXML
MODS
Dublin Core
LOTS of domain-specific schemas
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13. Three similar descriptive metadata formats
MARC
[example]
MARCXML
MODS
Record format
Binary
XML
Field labels
Numeric
Text
Reliance on AACR
Strong
Implied
Common method of creation
By specialists
By derivation
By specialists and by derivation
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14. 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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15. 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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16. Vocabulary encoding schemes
TGM I
TGM II
TGN
GeoNet
AAT
LCSH
LCNAF
DCMI Type
MIME Types
…etc.
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17. Syntax encoding schemes
AACR2r
ISO8601
W3CDTF
URI
…etc.
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18. 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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19. 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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20. 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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21. Crosswalks (2) Can be in many formats Cornell working on registry
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):
Often need to tweak a generic crosswalk for a specific implementation
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22. 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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23. 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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24. 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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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
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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26. 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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27. Further information jenlrile@indiana.edu
These presentation slides:
Metadata librarians listserv: <
Priscilla Caplan: Metadata Fundamentals for all Librarians, 2003
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L520 Fall 2004