Metadata Standards and Applications 1. Introduction to Digital Libraries and Metadata

Metadata Standards Metadata Standards and Applicationsand Applications

1. Introduction to Digital 1. Introduction to Digital Libraries and MetadataLibraries and Metadata

Intro to Digital LibrariesIntro to Digital Libraries

Traditional library characteristicsTraditional library characteristics

Digital library characteristicsDigital library characteristics

How does the environment How does the environment affect the creation of metadata?affect the creation of metadata?

– DifferencesDifferences

– SimilaritiesSimilarities

22Metadata Standards & ApplicationsMetadata Standards & Applications

Traditional LibrariesTraditional LibrariesFirm commitment to standardsFirm commitment to standards

– AACR2+--specifications for metadata contentAACR2+--specifications for metadata content

– MARC 21--specifications for metadata MARC 21--specifications for metadata structure, encoding and “packaging”structure, encoding and “packaging”

– A variety of syntactical bindings availableA variety of syntactical bindings available

Agreements on quality expectationsAgreements on quality expectations

Tradition of sharing, facilitated by Tradition of sharing, facilitated by bibliographic utilitiesbibliographic utilities

Available documentation and trainingAvailable documentation and training


Digital LibrariesDigital Libraries

No dominant content standardNo dominant content standard

A variety of “formats” (or “schemas” or “element A variety of “formats” (or “schemas” or “element sets”)sets”)

Some emerging “federated” agreements, mostly Some emerging “federated” agreements, mostly in the world of digital libraries attached to in the world of digital libraries attached to traditional libraries (ex.: DLF)traditional libraries (ex.: DLF)

Very low (if any) quality expectations!Very low (if any) quality expectations!

Emerging (but still spotty) basis for sharing (OAI-Emerging (but still spotty) basis for sharing (OAI-PMH)PMH)

Very little documentation and training available Very little documentation and training available (mostly local and difficult to re-use)(mostly local and difficult to re-use)


Environmental FactorsEnvironmental Factors

Differences:Differences:

– PlayersPlayers: New world of metadata not : New world of metadata not necessarily lead by librariansnecessarily lead by librarians

– GoalsGoals: Competition for users critical for : Competition for users critical for sustainabilitysustainability

– ResourcesResources: No real basis for understanding : No real basis for understanding non-technical needs (including metadata non-technical needs (including metadata creation and maintenance)creation and maintenance)

– Many levels of content responsibility (or none)Many levels of content responsibility (or none)


Environmental FactorsEnvironmental Factors

SimilaritiesSimilarities

– It’s about discovery (and access, and It’s about discovery (and access, and use, and meeting user needs)use, and meeting user needs)

– Pressure for fast, cheap and “good Pressure for fast, cheap and “good enough” (also rich, scalable, and re-enough” (also rich, scalable, and re-usable--is that a contradiction?)usable--is that a contradiction?)

– Wide variety of materials and servicesWide variety of materials and services

– Maintenance needs often overlookedMaintenance needs often overlooked66Metadata Standards & ApplicationsMetadata Standards & Applications

What What ISIS Metadata? Metadata?

Some possibilities:Some possibilities:– ““Data about data” (or data about Data about data” (or data about

resources)resources)– ““Structured information that describes, Structured information that describes,

explains, locates, and otherwise makes explains, locates, and otherwise makes it easier to retrieve and use an it easier to retrieve and use an information resource.”information resource.”

– A management toolA management tool– ““People, stuff, and agreements”People, stuff, and agreements”

(indecs)(indecs)


Functions of Metadata

Discover

resources

Manage

documents

Control IP

Rights

Identify

versions

Certify

authenticity

Indicate

status

Mark content

structure

Situate

geospatially

Describe

processes

8Metadata Standards & Applications

Types of MetadataTypes of Metadata

AdministrativeAdministrative

DescriptiveDescriptive

Access/UseAccess/Use

PreservationPreservation

StructuralStructural

Other?Other?99Metadata Standards & ApplicationsMetadata Standards & Applications

Administrative MetadataAdministrative Metadata

Sometimes called: “Meta-metadata”Sometimes called: “Meta-metadata”

– Who created this information?Who created this information?

– When was it created?When was it created?

– When were links last checked?When were links last checked?

– Other update transactions?Other update transactions?

Review or approval (by cataloger, or Review or approval (by cataloger, or other responsible party)other responsible party)


Descriptive MetadataDescriptive Metadata

Title, author, human-readable Title, author, human-readable description of a resourcedescription of a resource

Subject or topical informationSubject or topical information

Genre and format of the resourceGenre and format of the resource

Relationships with other resources Relationships with other resources (version, parent/child, etc.)(version, parent/child, etc.)


Access/Use MetadataAccess/Use Metadata

Where is the resource? Is it in a Where is the resource? Is it in a place open to me?place open to me?

Are there restrictions on the use of Are there restrictions on the use of the resource?the resource?

Do I have the hardware/software to Do I have the hardware/software to use the resource?use the resource?

What can I do with this resource?What can I do with this resource? 1212Metadata Standards & ApplicationsMetadata Standards & Applications

Preservation MetadataPreservation Metadata

Designed to ensure that the information Designed to ensure that the information the resource contains remains accessible the resource contains remains accessible to users over a long period of timeto users over a long period of time

Records details about format migration Records details about format migration and data refreshmentand data refreshment

Tracks versions used for different kinds of Tracks versions used for different kinds of access and display access and display

Allows a variety of approaches to the Allows a variety of approaches to the problem of maintaining resources over problem of maintaining resources over timetime


Structural MetadataStructural Metadata

No single standard or best practice governs No single standard or best practice governs structural metadata creationstructural metadata creation

Ties the components of a complex or Ties the components of a complex or compound resource together and makes the compound resource together and makes the whole usablewhole usable

Enables flexible and local approaches to Enables flexible and local approaches to presentation and navigationpresentation and navigation

Various approaches to sharing structural Various approaches to sharing structural metadata exist (METS perhaps the best metadata exist (METS perhaps the best known)known)


Cataloging and MetadataCataloging and Metadata

How are they related?How are they related?– Underlying models for cataloging based on Underlying models for cataloging based on

AACR2 and MARC 21AACR2 and MARC 21

– Underlying models for metadata not well Underlying models for metadata not well integrated with schemasintegrated with schemas DC Abstract model an exceptionDC Abstract model an exception FRBR the model for RDAFRBR the model for RDA

Most metadata models roughly based on Most metadata models roughly based on attribute/value pairs:attribute/value pairs:

– <property> = <value><property> = <value>


One BIG Difference ...One BIG Difference ... Catalogers most often are attempting to fit new Catalogers most often are attempting to fit new

items into an already existing world of items into an already existing world of materials--materials--

– The structure already exists, as do the rules for The structure already exists, as do the rules for describingdescribing

Metadata practitioners are generally working Metadata practitioners are generally working with aggregated “stuff,” attempting to find a with aggregated “stuff,” attempting to find a way to make it accessibleway to make it accessible

– Involves broad understanding, ability to work with Involves broad understanding, ability to work with others to make decisions that work for whole others to make decisions that work for whole projects or domainsprojects or domains

*Thanks to Marty Kurth for these insights1616Metadata Standards & ApplicationsMetadata Standards & Applications

ExerciseExercise

Examine the three digital library sites Examine the three digital library sites below, and be prepared to discuss below, and be prepared to discuss differences in user approach and differences in user approach and experience. How is metadata used in experience. How is metadata used in these sites?these sites?– Alsos: Digital Library for Nuclear Issues Alsos: Digital Library for Nuclear Issues ((

http://alsos.wlu.edu/default.aspx))

– CSUN Oviatt Library: Digital Collections CSUN Oviatt Library: Digital Collections ((http://library.csun.edu/Collections/SCA/digicoll.html))

– Birdsource Birdsource ((http://www.birdsource.org/)/)


Documents

Metadata Standards and Applications 1. Introduction to Digital Libraries and Metadata