The Metadata Landscape:

Cataloging Cultural Objects, the VRA Core, and Our Visual Collections

Margaret N. Webster

Knight Visual Resources Facility

December 14, 2007

Why the fuss about Metadata?• Access: find more stuff• Meaning: what is it? distinguish one

thing from another• Context: where does it fit?, where

will it lead?• Uses: who can use it and how they

use it• Preserve: helps save stuff

In the age of Google, why bother?

• Speed up cataloging• Promote consistency of recording

and retrieving data• Reduce user confusion• Facilitate migration fielded data can

be recombined mechanically for a variety of outputs and uses

• Useful in sharing initiatives• Improve user access

Many Systems/Many Purposes

• Content Management Systems– Image Collections– Libraries– Museums

• DAMS• Digital Repositories• Course Management• Presentation/Discovery tools

A digital object gathers metadata

• Administrative• Technical• Preservation• Structural•Descriptive• Use plus user generated

metadata!

Descriptive Metadata A Brief Typology

Data structure standards (metadata element sets)VRA Core, CDWA, Dublin Core, MARC

Data value standards (vocabularies/taxonomies)LCSH, LCNAF, TGM, AAT, ULAN

Data content/syntax standards (cataloging rules)CCO, AACR (RDA), DACS

Data format/technical interchange standards (expressed in machine-readable form)VRA Core XML schema, CDWA-Lite, Dublin Core, DC Qualified

XML schema, MARC, MARCXML

Cataloging Cultural Objects:Issues Covered

Managing objects/images vs. describing them

Work Type, Classification, Naming works

Whole/part relationships Controlled terminology Contextual materials and relationships Various audiences and display

demands

This simplified diagram illustrates how works may be related to other works, and how works may be related to images, sources, and authorities.

CCO Ten Key Principles:

Illustrated Examples

1. Establish logical focus of each work record…

8. Be consistent in establishing relationships…

photograph painting

Both are portraits of the same person, but are different work types

Example of 2 image records

linked to 1 work record

Example of records for

related works

2. Include all of the CCO required elements.

3. Follow the CCO rules. Make & enforce additional local rules to allow effective retrieval, repurposing and the exchange of information.

CCO Recommended

elements *

4. Use published controlled vocabularies such as the Getty vocabularies & the

Library of Congress Authorities.

5. Create local authorities that are populated with

terminology as well as with local terms. Structure as

thesauri whenever possible.

Subject field using terms from various authorities

Class: Architecture

Work Type: memorial Title: Lincoln Memorial Creator Display: architect Henry Bacon (American,

1866-1924) and sculptor Daniel Chester French (American, 1850-1931)

Creation Date: designed 1911-1912; constructed 1914-1922

Subject: commemoration, honor, Abraham Lincoln Location: Washington, DC Materials and Technique: Exterior: Colorado Yule

marble; Tripods: Pink Tennessee marble; Interior walls and columns: Indiana limestone; Ceiling: Alabama marble saturated with paraffin for translucency; Floor and wall base: Pink Tennessee marble; Pedestal and platform for statue: Tennessee marble; Statue: White Georgia marble

Description: Design was influenced by the Greek Parthenon. Built into the design are symbols of Union like the 36 exterior Doric columns representing the 36 states in the Union at the time of Lincoln's death…

• Links to authorities are recommended

• Authorities are discussed in detail in Part III of CCO

Concept Authority Record:TermsTerms: :

memorial (preferred) memorials commemoration building

NoteNote: : o Structures built to preserve the memory of beings or events. For other objects created, issued, or worn to commemorate persons or events, use "commemoratives."Hierarchical positionHierarchical position: :

Objects Facet ....Built Environment ........Single Built Works ...........<single built works by function> ...............<ceremonial structures> ...................memorials

SourceSource: : AAT

Concept Authority Record:TermsTerms: :

memorial (preferred) memorials commemoration building

NoteNote: : o Structures built to preserve the memory of beings or events. For other objects created, issued, or worn to commemorate persons or events, use "commemoratives."Hierarchical positionHierarchical position: :

Objects Facet ....Built Environment ........Single Built Works ...........<single built works by function> ...............<ceremonial structures> ...................memorials

SourceSource: : AAT

6. Use established metadata structure standards, such as the VRA Core Categories, CDWA….

7. Understand that cataloging, classification, indexing and display are different, but related things

Classification

Display

Cataloging

Creation Cluster

9. Be consistent regarding capitalization, punctuation and syntax, but when necessary use standard codes and lists for abbreviations…

10. For English-language information systems and users, use English-Language data values whenever possible.

Metadata on the move: mapping

Bibliographic

(MARC)

VR

(VRA Core)

Museum (CDWA)

1xx Main Entry

7xx Added Entry

Agent Maker

24Xa Title and Title related information

Title Title

340a Physical Medium Material

Materials Materials

Metadata Practice

Tools for capturing Community standards for sharing

and reuse Portable and Preserved Workflow, when, who Where to store? Where and how to display