The Metadata Object Description Schema

(MODS)NISO Metadata Workshop

May 20, 2004

Rebecca Guenther

Network Development and MARC Standards Office

Library of Congress

What is MODS? Metadata Object Description Schema Descriptive metadata standard (not for

document markup) Initiative of Network Development and MARC

Standards Office at LC Uses XML Schema Originally designed for library applications, but

may be used for others A derivative of MARC

Why MODS? XML (Extensible Markup Language) is the

markup for the Web Investigating XML as a new more flexible syntax

for MARC element set Need for rich descriptive metadata in XML but

simpler than full MARC, especially for complex digital library objects

Potential Uses of MODS

As a rich (but not too rich) XML metadata format for emerging initiatives Z39.50 Next Generation specified format extension schema to METS to represent metadata for harvesting (OAI) As an interoperable core for convergence

between MARC and non-MARC XML descriptions

For original resource description in XML syntax using language based tags

Advantages of MODS

Element set is richer than Dublin Core Hierarchy allows for rich description,

especially of complex digital objects Element set is compatible with existing

descriptions in large library databases Rich description that works well with

hierarchical METS objects

Features of MODS Uses language-based tags Elements generally inherit semantics of MARC Elements particularly applicable to digital

resources MODS does not assume the use of any specific

rules for description Element descriptions are reused throughout the

schema Use of XML schema allows for flexibility and

availability of freely available tools

MODS high-level elements

Title Info Name Type of resource Genre Origin Info Language Physical description Abstract Table of contents Target audience

Note Subject Classification Related item Identifier Location Access conditions Extension Record Info

Status of MODS Open listserv collaboration of self-selected possible

implementors, LC coordinated (1st half 2002) First comment and use period: June – December

2002 Version 2.0 Feb. 2003-Dec. 2003 MODS version 3.0 now available Version 3.0 includes corrections and citation

information for journal article Registration submitted to NISO, now being balloted Coming: a MODS for authorities called MADS

LC uses of MODS Describing electronic resources

AV project, web archiving Incorporation with XML resources

METS projects for digital resources (e.g. IHAS, Blackmun)

OAI collections LC offers MODS, MARCXML, DC simple

Further use planned for lightweight descriptions for Web resources

MINERVA at LC MINERVA: LC’s web archiving project (based on

specific themes) Exploring issues with born digital resources MODS used for descriptive metadata Election 2002 Web archive

Collaboration with Internet Archive, Webarchivist.org Selective collection of archived sites July-Nov. 2002 MODS records for each site

Other collections: 9/11, 107th Congress Plan to use METS and develop profile for Web sites for

107th

Metadata done in-house, more controlled

Fields used in Minerva project

Title Name (structured

form) Abstract Date captured Genre (value always

“Web site”)

Physical description (file formats)

Identifier (base URL) Language Access

conditions/rights management

Subject (keyword or LCSH if possible)

Sample MODS record for Election 2002

Fran Ulmer web site record (XML)

MODS projects AV Prototype Project (Library of Congress)

Digital preservation for audio and video Uses METS and MODS with focus on metadata

University of California press Using METS with MODS for freely available

ebooks California Digital Library

Digitization of archival materials Other METS projects as descMD section MusicAustralia

MODS as exchange format between National Library of Australia and ScreenSoundAustralia

Bibliographic citations

Additions to MODS 3.0 to allow for output of bibliographic citations Parsed elements to generate OpenURL Stylesheet to output citation in particular

citation format<part>

<detail><extent><date><text>

Differences between MODS and Dublin Core

MODS has structure Names Publication information (originInfo) Related item Subject

MODS is more compatible with library data Semantics Conversions Relationships between elements

Includes record management (administrative metadata) information

Choosing MODS for descriptive metadata

MODS is particularly useful for compatibility with existing bibliographic data embedded descriptions in relatedItem Rich, hierarchical descriptions that work well

with METS structural map “out of the box” schema; can use

<extension> for local elements and to bring in external elements from other schemas

Conclusions•MODS was developed as a rich descriptive metadata standard that works well with other XML standards/initiatives•Provides a descriptive metadata standard intermediate in richness between Dublin Core and MARC 21 (or other specialized descriptive metadata standard)•Although a derivative of MARC, MODS has wide potential application as a rich descriptive metadata standard for various needs•XML tools allow for easy transformations (made available by LC)

For further information

http://www.loc.gov/standards/mods