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A Whirlwind Tour Through Part of the Metadata Landscape
Jenn Riley Metadata Librarian IU Digital Library Program
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Many definitions of metadata
“Data about data” “Any data used to aid the identification, description and location of networked electronic resources.” (IFLA) “Structured information about an information resource of any media type or format.” (Caplan) … 12/5/05 L520 Fall 2006
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More definition Libraries tend to focus on: Origin
Structure Control Origin Machine-generated Human-generated The difference between data, metadata, and meta-metadata is often one of perspective 12/5/05 L520 Fall 2006
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Some uses of metadata By information specialists By novices
Describing “non-traditional” materials Cataloging Web sites Navigating digital objects Preserving digital objects over the long term Managing intellectual property By novices Preparing Web sites for search engines Describing Eprints Managing citation lists Managing personal CD collections 12/5/05 L520 Fall 2006
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Metadata and cataloging
Depends on what you mean by: metadata, and cataloging! But, in general: The term 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 is NOT only for Internet resources! 12/5/05 L520 Fall 2006
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Creating metadata HTML <meta> tags Spreadsheets Databases XML
Library catalogs “Digital library” systems DSpace ContentDM Greenstone 12/5/05 L520 Fall 2006
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Some types of metadata Descriptive metadata Administrative metadata
Technical metadata Preservation metadata Rights metadata Structural metadata 12/5/05 L520 Fall 2006
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How metadata is used 12/5/05 L520 Fall 2006
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Descriptive metadata Serves as a surrogate for the item for the purpose of: Description Discovery Some common general schemas MARC MARCXML MODS Dublin Core MANY domain-specific schemas 12/5/05 L520 Fall 2006
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MODS “Metadata Object Description Schema”
Developed and maintained by the Library of Congress For encoding bibliographic information Influenced by MARC, but not equivalent Quickly gaining adoption 12/5/05 L520 Fall 2006
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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 12/5/05 L520 Fall 2006
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Dublin Core (2) Two “flavors”
Unqualified Qualified Additional elements Element refinements Encoding schemes All qualifiers must follow “dumb-down” principle Unqualified DC required for sharing metadata via the Open Archives Initiative 12/5/05 L520 Fall 2006
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Comparing descriptive metadata formats
MARC [example] MARCXML MODS Dublin Core [example] Record format Binary (ISO 2709) XML RDF, XML, HTML, et al. Field labels Numeric Text Reliance on AACR Strong Implied None Common method of creation By specialists By derivation By specialists and by derivation By novices and by specialists 12/5/05 L520 Fall 2006
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Levels of control Data structure standards (e.g., MODS)
Data content standards (e.g., AACR2r) Data value standards Vocabulary encoding schemes Syntax encoding schemes Few metadata standards include a counterpart to the AACR “chief source of information” 12/5/05 L520 Fall 2006
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When there’s no data content standard…
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Vocabulary encoding schemes
TGM I TGM II TGN GeoNet AAT LCSH LCNAF DCMI Type MIME Types …etc. 12/5/05 L520 Fall 2006
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Syntax encoding schemes
ISO8601 W3CDTF URI AACR2r …etc. 12/5/05 L520 Fall 2006
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Thinking about shareable metadata
A metadata record is one (and only one) view of the resource Metadata for local needs may be different than metadata for aggregation Standards promote interoperability Ensure appropriate Formats Content Context 12/5/05 L520 Fall 2006
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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 12/5/05 L520 Fall 2006
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Crosswalks (2) Can be in many formats
Logical sets of rules [example] Actual code [example] Often need to tweak a generic crosswalk for a specific implementation Accommodating local practice Adding institution-specific information Adding context not available locally 12/5/05 L520 Fall 2006
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How do I pick a metadata format? (1)
Institution Nature of holding institution Resources available for metadata creation What others in the community are doing Formats supported by your delivery software The standard Purpose Structure Context History 12/5/05 L520 Fall 2006
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How do I pick a metadata format? (2)
Materials Genre Format Likely audiences What metadata already exists for these materials Project goals Robustness needed for the given materials and users Describing multiple versions Mechanisms for providing relationships between records Plan for interoperability, including repeatability of elements More information on handout 12/5/05 L520 Fall 2006
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So why should I care? Because metadata issues are right now an essential part of librarianship All librarians – need to know how metadata interacts with the rest of the system 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 – need to purchase and manage digital objects 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 12/5/05 L520 Fall 2006
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Qualifications of a metadata librarian (1)
Experience with many different metadata standards Able apply experience to make good decisions in new environments Thorough knowledge of cataloging practice, including subject analysis Can use various XML technologies: XSLT, XPath, DTDs, XML Schema Good at writing detailed documentation 12/5/05 L520 Fall 2006
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Qualifications of a metadata librarian (2)
Experience with file formats for still images, audio, video, and other objects needing management Familiarity with one or more scripting/programming languages Subject expertise where required Likes to learn on the job Likes team work Excellent communication skills 12/5/05 L520 Fall 2006
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What does a metadata librarian do? (1)
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 Collaborate with subject/format specialists 12/5/05 L520 Fall 2006
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What does a metadata librarian do? (2)
Perform technical support for metadata creation tools Represent metadata issues on group projects/committees Constantly learning new approaches Teach others about metadata Librarian stuff! Professional development, service, faculty governance …etc.! 12/5/05 L520 Fall 2006
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Continuing education Professional literature in many areas
Digital libraries Cataloging Subject-specific Mailing lists in these same areas Blogs Conferences Digital Library Federation JCDL ALA (LITA, ALCTS) Talk to people! 12/5/05 L520 Fall 2006
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Further information jenlrile@indiana.edu
These presentation slides: < Metadata librarians listserv: < Priscilla Caplan: Metadata Fundamentals for all Librarians, 2003 12/5/05 L520 Fall 2006
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