A Whirlwind Tour Through Part of the Metadata Landscape

Jenn Riley

Metadata Librarian

IU Digital Library Program

4/26/06 L520 Spring 2006 2

Many definitions of metadata

“Data about data” “Structured information about an information

resource of any media type or format.” (Caplan)

“Any data used to aid the identification, description and location of networked electronic resources.” (IFLA)

…

4/26/06 L520 Spring 2006 3

Refining a definition

Other characteristics Structure Control

Origin Machine-generated Human-generated

In practice, the term often covers data and meta-metadata

4/26/06 L520 Spring 2006 4

Some uses of metadata

By information specialists Describing non-traditional materials Cataloging Web sites Navigating digital objects Managing digital objects over the long term Managing corporate assets

By novices Preparing Web sites for search engines Describing Eprints Managing personal CD collections

4/26/06 L520 Spring 2006 5

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 for many different types of materials

Metadata is NOT only for Internet resources!

4/26/06 L520 Spring 2006 6

Creating metadata

HTML <meta> tags Spreadsheets Databases XML Library catalogs Digital library content management systems

ContentDM Greenstone

4/26/06 L520 Spring 2006 7

Types of metadata

Descriptive metadata Administrative metadata

Technical metadata Preservation metadata Rights metadata

Structural metadata

4/26/06 L520 Spring 2006 8

How metadata is used

4/26/06 L520 Spring 2006 9

Descriptive metadata

Purpose Description Discovery

Some common general schemas MARC MARCXML MODS Dublin Core

LOTS of domain-specific schemas

4/26/06 L520 Spring 2006 10

MODS

“Metadata Object Description Schema” Developed and maintained by the Library of

Congress For encoding bibliographic information Influenced by MARC, but not equivalent Usable for any format of materials Quickly gaining adoption

4/26/06 L520 Spring 2006 11

Dublin Core (1)

15-element set “Core” across all knowledge domains No element required All elements repeatable Extensible 1:1 principle

4/26/06 L520 Spring 2006 12

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

4/26/06 L520 Spring 2006 13

Comparing descriptive metadata formats

MARC[example]

MARCXML[example]

MODS[example]

Dublin Core [example]

Record format

Binary

(ISO 2709)XML XML

RDF, XML, HTML, et al.

Field labels

Numeric Numeric Text Text

Reliance on AACR

Strong Strong Implied None

Common method of

creation

By specialists

By derivation

By specialists

and by derivation

By novices and by

specialists

4/26/06 L520 Spring 2006 14

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

4/26/06 L520 Spring 2006 15

Levels of control

Data structure standards (e.g., MARC) Data content standards (e.g., AACR2r) Very few metadata standards include a

counterpart to the AACR “chief source of information”

4/26/06 L520 Spring 2006 16

When there’s no data content standard…

4/26/06 L520 Spring 2006 17

Vocabulary encoding schemes

TGM I TGM II TGN GeoNet AAT

LCSH LCNAF DCMI Type MIME Types …etc.

4/26/06 L520 Spring 2006 18

Syntax encoding schemes

ISO8601 W3CDTF URI AACR2r …etc.

4/26/06 L520 Spring 2006 19

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

4/26/06 L520 Spring 2006 20

Structural metadata

For creating a logical structure between digital objects Multiple copies/versions of same item Multiple pages within item Multiple sizes of each page Meaningful groups of content

METS is the current primary schema

4/26/06 L520 Spring 2006 21

Thinking about shareable metadata

Metadata is a view of the resource Records to be shared will be different than

records in your local environment Standards promote interoperability Appropriate formats Appropriate content Appropriate context

4/26/06 L520 Spring 2006 22

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

4/26/06 L520 Spring 2006 23

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

4/26/06 L520 Spring 2006 24

So why should I care about metadata?

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

Archivists & special collections librarians – emerging metadata standards are specifically designed for your materials and needs

Administrators – you need to fit metadata work in the appropriate places in your organization; your staff will need training

Public librarians – must both make use of and provide metadata for your place in the Web environment

Corporate librarians– you often deal with non-MARC environments

School librarians – integration of library materials into instruction

4/26/06 L520 Spring 2006 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 Experience with file formats for still images, audio, video, and

other objects needing management Familiarity with one or more scripting/programming languages;

Perl is useful Subject expertise where required Good at writing detailed documentation Likes to learn on the job Excellent communication skills …etc.

4/26/06 L520 Spring 2006 26

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 Collaborate with subject/format specialists Perform 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.

4/26/06 L520 Spring 2006 27

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!

4/26/06 L520 Spring 2006 28

Further information

jenlrile@indiana.edu These presentation slides:

<http://www.dlib.indiana.edu/~jenlrile/presentations/slis/06spring/l520/l520.ppt>

Metadata librarians listserv: <http://metadatalibrarians.monarchos.com>

Priscilla Caplan: Metadata Fundamentals for all Librarians, 2003