Post on 21-Dec-2015
OLC Spring Chapter Conferences 2004
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Metadata, Schmetadata … Tell Me Why I Should Care?
OLC Spring Chapter Conferences, 2004
Margaret MaurerAssistant Professor, Cataloging Manager
Kent State University Libraries and Media Services
OLC Spring Chapter Conferences 2004
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Useful Resources
Metadata Fundamentals for All Librarians / Priscilla Caplan. ALA, 2003. 0-8389-0847-0
Introduction to Metadata, Pathways to Digital Information / Edited by Murtha Baca. Getty Information Institute, 1998. 0-89236-533-1
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What is Metadata?
Data about data Machine understandable information for the
web Data that describes the attributes of a resource,
e.g. its author(s), title, physical format, etc. A succinct and systematic set of information
that references, and can be used to retrieve efficiently and accurately, a larger set of information.
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Metadata
Cataloging is metadata, metadata is cataloging
Metadata can be information stored in <meta> tags in the headers for HTML pages
Library catalogs are metadata
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2003 OCLC Environmental Scan
Trends In the Technology Landscape: Bringing structure to unstructured data Distributed, component-based software A move to open-source software Security, authentication and digital rights
management
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Existing Metadata in Public Libraries
Traditional Library Information Systems Community Information
Directories of agencies and services Volunteer opportunities listings Events
Local historical and genealogical information
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Traditional Library Metadata
Collection catalogue Indexing services (magazines and
newspapers) MARC centric services Purchased content and data management
services
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Local Historical and Genealogical Information
Newspaper clippings stored in a digital images database
Indexes of non-digitized material Census, wills, property records, military
records, cemetery records, business directories, maps …
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Digitization Projects in Ohio Libraries
Digitization projects use metadata to describe images
47% of survey respondents were in some phase of a digitization project in Ohio in 2001
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Creating your own metadata
Define what the resources are Describe who will want to access
them and how Determine what standards exist to
describe that type of resource Adapt that standard and document it
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Entity
An object or thing about which information needs to be known or held. The resource being cataloged.
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Metadata Element A discrete unit of data about a
resource. Elements may be further qualified. 15 Dublin Core elements In MARC, each field is an element.
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Attribute A category of information about an
element or entity. Used to identify, qualify, classify or
quantify the element or entity. A list of attributes is defined for each
Dublin Core element in a particular application file.
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Metadata Scheme
A scheme that helps interpret element values.
Examples can include parsing rules, controlled vocabularies, or AACR rules or MARC21
A defined list of elements & rules for entering data
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Not one size fits all
No universal metadata type Coordination is tighter at the top than
where metadata is being designed
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Metadata Schemes Define:
Semantics – The meaning of the metadata elements themselves
Content Rules Syntax Context Management
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Types of Metadata
Descriptive metadata – resource discovery
Administrative metadata – management of resources
Structural metadata – machine necessary information
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Descriptive metadata
Aids in resource discovery MARC / AACR Dublin Core TEI (Text Encoding Initiative)
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Administrative metadata
Facilitates the management of the resource
Controls access to the resource Grants Permissions for use Rights management
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Structural metadata
Used by machines Seldom seen by the human eye
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DC Metadata Application Profiles
Application profiles: Formalized definitions Identifies controlled vocabularies (if
any) Human readable information about the
application and usage guidance
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Western States Dublin Core Metadata Best Practices
OhioLINK Draft Guidelines for Digital Media Center Metadata
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Metadata crosswalks
Based on datamapping Aid interoperability Authoritative mappings Generally round-trip mapping is not
supported without data distortion or loss
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Structures for Metadata
Non-connected metadata (databases) Embedded metadata
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Text Encoding Initiative (TEI) Headers
Coding for electronic texts Example of embedded metadata Closely related to ISBD
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Dublin Core Metadata Initiative
Example of metadata that can either be non-connected or embedded
General purpose scheme for resource description
15 elements Can be qualified
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Dublin Core (Continued)
Internationally accepted Flexible Interoperability Too few elements and qualifiers Lack of usage guidelines
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Dublin Core’s Purpose and Goals
To assist in and enhance resource discovery and description on the web.
To achieve semantic interoperability To be recognized as an international
standard.
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Metadata and searching – embedded <meta> tags
The internet is rife with data, but poor in metadata
Effective searching requires the ability to find what you are looking for and the ability to use what you find.
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Metadata and searching within a domain Search engines that index <meta> elements
Ultraseek Berkeley’s Swish-E Microsoft’s Index Server Blue Angel Technologies MetaStar Verity Livelink Search and Spider
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The good and the bad of Interoperability
Lack of a standard format Open Archives Initiative (OAI)
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So, What’s next?
Indexing & Cataloging are needed It’s our job Librarians as tool makers Volunteer!
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http://www.library.kent.edu/~mmaurer/