Metadata Semantic Web Solutions: Web 2.0 and beyond ______________________________ Stephanie Beene, 10/14/2008

Metadata: What is it? several definitions, depending on the field... " data about data" is the most generic definition. "structured information that describes, explains, locates, or otherwise makes it easier to retrieve, use, or manage an information resource" (NISO, 2004). "data associated with either an information system or an information object for purposes of description, administration, legal requirements, technical functionality, use and usage, and preservation" (DCMI Glossary, 2005). In the last decade metadata standards & guidelines skyrocketed with the proliferation of digital information. As these standards & guidelines were created with local needs in mind, semantic silos were created. ____________________________

Semantic Web Solutions The Problem: Since the first Dublin Core Workshop in 1995, metadata has expanded well beyond just describing documents. o become a symbol for digital information organization and management. three phases over the past 13 years in metadata development: o ~ : exploring and defining metadata in its Internet roles, how it adapts to domain- specific (local) requirements. o ~~ : the Dublin Core became the international standard, domain-standards proliferate. Semantic Web goals: Interoperability and Standardization. We're in the third phase of metadata development: o ~2003-present: theoretical frameworks, grassroots tagging. o Dilemmas: ever-increasing volume of digital information; complexities, high cost, slow creation of metadata. ________________________________

Library & Information Science Computer Science The Semantic Web Conversation "How can we describe information objects?" "We want to capture data about digital objects..." "We want a variety of responses to user queries" "How can we build systems to respond better/more quickly to user requests?" " How can we encode data in executable format into Web architecture? " "How can metadata become machine- processable?" ___________________________________________

Semantic Web Solutions Outcomes to the Conversation: Ongoing process to unify the two paradigms of description & processability/executability. XML/RDF-based languages: o combine semantic structures with computational syntax o provide mechanisms for expressing relationships between classes of data that is computer/machine-processable. o example: OWL ( Web Ontology Language): Application Profiles (DCMI): o as a way to declare which elements from which namespaces are used in a particular application or project. o schemas of data elements optimized for a specific local application Infrastructure streamlining (making all XML-compatible): XML/RDF as the data-binding language ____________________________

The Metadata Jungle!

Attempts to tame the jungle...

Semantic Web Solutions ________________________________ Some Examples: Archives Initiatives: OAI Metadata Harvester: California Digital Library OAI: Business Initiatives: SAS (formerly Statistical Analysis Software, now just SAS): CFQOIFQod_kVoLg Mozenda (formerly Infosquire): Library Initiatives: Dublin Core Solutions: Siderean Software (Seamark): Sirsi Dynix Enterprise Solutions: Millennium Triple I:

____________________________ questions?

____________________________ Sources Lei Zeng, Marcia and Jian Qin (2008). Metadata. New York: Neal-Schumann Publishers, Inc. Class readings & links you see on this presentation