Introduction to Metadata Jenn Riley Metadata Librarian IU

Introduction to Metadata Jenn Riley Metadata Librarian IU Digital Library Program 6/25/07 SEI

Some definitions of metadata n Data about data n “Structured information about an information resource of any media type or format. ” (Caplan) n “Structured information that describes, explains, locates, or otherwise makes it easier to retrieve, use, or manage an information resource. ” (NISO) n “A relationship that someone claims to exist between two entities” (<indecs>) 6/25/07 SEI 2

Refining a definition n Other characteristics n Structure n Control n Origin n Machine-generated n Human-generated n In practice, the term often covers data and meta-metadata 6/25/07 SEI 3

Metadata and cataloging n Depends on what you mean by: n metadata, and n cataloging! n But, in general: n Metadata is broader in scope than cataloging n Much metadata creation takes place outside of libraries n Good metadata practitioners use fundamental cataloging principles in non-MARC environments n Metadata created for many different types of materials 6/25/07 SEI 4

What metadata is not n Just a new word for cataloging n Only for Internet resources n Necessarily in electronic form n Only created by professionals n A fundamentally new idea n A reason to forget everything we know about describing and managing resources 6/25/07 SEI 5

Some forms of metadata in cultural heritage institutions n Catalog cards n OPACs n Finding aids n Inventories n Registers n Slide labels 6/25/07 SEI 7

Uses of metadata in cultural heritage institutions n Searching n Browsing n Display for users n Interoperability n Management of digital objects n Preservation n Navigation 6/25/07 SEI 8

Some types of metadata Type Use Descriptive metadata Searching Browsing Display Interoperability Technical metadata Interoperability Digital object management Preservation metadata Interoperability Preservation Rights metadata Interoperability Digital object management Structural metadata Navigation 6/25/07 SEI 9

How metadata is used 6/25/07 SEI 10

A taxonomy of standards 6/25/07 SEI Chart from Weibel & Elings, “Metadata for All” <http: //www. firstmonday. org/issues/issue 12_3/elings/index. html> 11

Some data structure standards n For general use n MARC and MARCXML n MODS n Dublin Core n More specialized for this community n VRA Core n CDWA Lite 6/25/07 SEI 12

Brief display of LC MARC record with field labels 6/25/07 SEI 13 Slide courtesy of Jan Eklund, UC Berkeley

“Classic” LC MARC record with field tags 6/25/07 SEI 14 Slide courtesy of Jan Eklund, UC Berkeley

MARCXML record 6/25/07 http: //www. loc. gov/standards/marcxml SEI 15 Slide courtesy of Jan Eklund, UC Berkeley

Some data content standards n Anglo-American Cataloging Rules, 2 nd edition (AACR 2) n Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS) n Replaces APPM n Cataloging Cultural Objects (CCO) 6/25/07 SEI 16

Also standards for individual fields n Controlled vocabularies n Names: LCNAF, ULAN, etc. n “Subjects”: LCSH, AAT, etc. n Geographic places: LCSH, TGN, etc. n Classification schemes, e. g. , LCC n Encoding schemes, e. g. , W 3 CDTF Some fields may not be covered by a content standard, or you may choose to override the guidance of a content standard for a particular field 6/25/07 SEI 17

Creating descriptive metadata n “Digital library” systems n Content. DM n Ex. Libris Digitool n Greenstone n Library catalogs n Spreadsheets & databases n XML 6/25/07 SEI 18

Challenges for descriptive VR metadata n No infrastructure for copy cataloging n Often describe unique rather than mass- produced works n Description tends to be more subjective than traditional library cataloging n Many whole/part and derivative relationships n Generally describe surrogates rather than actual works 6/25/07 SEI 19

Work vs. image Work = image content Agent = Auguste Rodin, sculptor Title = The Thinker Work type = sculpture Descriptive metadata Image = view of a work Agent = Joe Dokes, photographer Call number = 275. R 692 Title = Full view from front left Class = French Modern Sculpture Work type = color transparency Accession # = 654321 Descriptive metadata Administrative metadata Museum inventory # = R 9876 Exhibition status = on display Administrative metadata 6/25/07 Measurements = 350 kb Work type = digital image Technical metadata SEI 20 Slide courtesy of Jan Eklund, UC Berkeley

The role of community n There’s no one “right way” to record descriptive metadata n But we shouldn’t each have to start from scratch with our own planning n Collaboration within defined communities is the key to success 6/25/07 SEI 21