introduction to metadata: overview and guidelines using the dublin core metadata schema amelia...
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Introduction to Metadata:Introduction to Metadata:
Overview and Guidelines Using the Overview and Guidelines Using the Dublin Core Metadata SchemaDublin Core Metadata Schema
Amelia Breytenbach
Metadata Specialist
Institutional Repository Workshop
1-3 April 2009
Overview
• What metadata is• Types of metadata • What does metadata do and why we use it• Metadata standards• Dublin Core Metadata Standard• Encoding schemes• Metadata creation• Metadata documentation
Definition of Metadata
• Metadata describes other data.– It provides information about a certain item's
content, i.e. an image may include metadata that describes the picture size, colour depth, image resolution and date created
– A text document's metadata may contain information about the document’s length, the author, when the document was written and a short summary
Source: The Tech Terms Computer Dictionary http://www.techterms.com/definition/metadata
What Is Metadata?
• Standardized descriptions of resources that aid in the discovery and retrieval of resources, particularly in reference to information about electronic, or digital, material
• Describing individual files, single objects or complete collections
• Traditional library cataloging is a form of metadata and MARC 21 and the AACR2 used with it are metadata standards
Types of Metadata
• Descriptive
• Structural
• Administrative or technical
– Preservation– Rights management
title, author, extent, subject, keywords
unique identifiers, page numbers, special features (table of contents, indexes)
file formats, scanning dates, file compression format, image resolution
Archival information Ownership, copyright,
license information
What Does Metadata Do?
Metadata• is the key to ensuring that resources will survive
and continue to be accessible into the future• is searchable and aids the identification and
retrieval of resources• helps the end user to do accurate searching and
to evaluate a resource• types also assists in managing, maintaining and
preserving digital collections• facilitate interoperability• supports archiving, security and authentication
of digital resources
Why Use Metadata?
• Metadata provides the essential link between the information creator and the information user
• We can ensure that this objective is met by using metadata in accordance with international standards
Metadata Standards
• Data structure standardsStandardized sets such as Dublin Core, VRA and MODS
• Data content standardsRules or guidelines for input
• Data value standardsLists of allowed values for an element
• Data format or encoding standardsHow to encode the metadata
• Data presentation standardsDisplay of the metadata
Dublin Core as Structure Standard for DSpace
Qualified Dublin Core Metadata Element Set• Mandatory elements in DSpace
Title, Language and Date element• DSpace refinements
Additional metadata qualifiers for some DC elements
• System generated metadata
Dublin Core Metadata Initiative (DCMI)
• An organization with the aim to promote more intelligent resource discovery through the widespread adoption of interoperable metadata standards and the development of specialized metadata vocabularies for describing resources
• DCMI provides an international forum for identifying problems, to develop understanding and proposing solutions
• Dublin Core website: http://dublincore.org/
Characteristics of Dublin Core
• The DC elements are – simple to understand and apply– subject independent with commonly
understood terminology– optional and repeatable– international in scope– extensibility
Dublin Core Metadata Element Set
• Unqualified
For coarse-grained discovery of resources• Qualified
– For richer descriptions to enable more refined resource discovery
– Most digital library software uses qualified DC • “Dumb-down” principle
– Collapse a refinement back into a core element– Unqualified DC required for sharing metadata via
the Open Archives Initiative
Dublin Core Metadata Element Set(Source: Miller, Steven J., 2007. Metadata for digital collections: an online workshop.
Qualified Dublin Core in DSpace
Dublin Core Qualifiers
Two categories of qualifiers:• Element refinement
Make the meaning of an element narrower or more specific. A refined element shares the meaning of the unqualified element, but with a more restricted scope
• Encoding scheme
Identify schemes that aid in the interpretation of an element value. These schemes include controlled vocabularies and formal notations
Dublin Core Element Refinements
• Title Alternative • Creator -• Contributor -• Publisher -• Description Abstract, Table of Contents• Subject -• Coverage Spatial, Temporal• Format Extent, Medium• Type -• Date Created, Available, Modified, Valid, Issued• Language -• Relation Is Version of, Has Version, Is Replaced
By, Replaces, Is Required By, Requires, Is Part Of, Has Part, Is Referenced By, References, Is Format Of, Has Format, Conforms To
• Source -• Identifier -• Rights -
Encoding scheme for a element value
Qualifiers for
dc.date element
Dublin Core Encoding Schemes
• Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names Online (TGN)
http://www.getty.edu/research/conducting_research/vocabularies/tgn/index.html
• Art and Architecture Thesaurus Online (AAT)
http://www.getty.edu/research/conducting_research/vocabularies/aat/
• Library of Congress Name Authority File (LCNAF)
http://authorities.loc.gov/
• Library of Congress Thesaurus for Graphic Materials (LCTGM)
http://www.loc.gov/rr/print/tgm1/
Creator, Publisher and Subject elements
Subject element
Coverage.spatial field
Subject element
Dublin Core Original vs Digital Resource
• 1 : 1 principle• Single metadata record with mix elements for the
original and digital object• Use repeatable Dublin Core elements in the same
metadata description• Use locally-defined elements and map to a Dublin
Core element
Date Original
Date Digital
DC Date element
Example
Element Original Painting Digital Image
Title Mona Lisa Mona Lisa
Creator Leonardo da Vinci Leonardo da Vinci
Date 1500 2002-10-30
Format.medium Oil painting Image/JPEG file
Type Still Image Still Image
Identifier No. 779 [museum inventory number]
2002_0054.jpg
Format.extent 77 X 53 cm 158KB
Rights Not in copyright © [owner digital collection]
Metadata Creation
• Natural metadata is found in the source document and created by the researcher or submitter • supports discovery of resources• includes the author’s name, date, title
• Added metadata is added by an metadata editor or by software • supports resource selection• includes subject terms, abstracts and rights
metadata
Metadata Creation (cont.)
• Metadata as a view of the resource• There is no one-size-fits-all metadata record • Metadata for the same thing is different
depending on collection, use and audience
Metadata Creation (cont.)
• Rivers of Europe
Elbe river with passenger boats, Dresden
• European Opera Houses
“Semperoper” opera house in Dresden, Germany
• Cities of Europe
River scene in Dresden, Germany
• Bridges of the World
Augustus Bridge over the Elbe River, Dresden, Germany
Construct a title for this image if the theme of the digital collection was:
Detailed vs Simple Metadata Descriptions
• Detailed metadata descriptions – may improve searching precision – require higher investment in creation of metadata – make it more difficult to promote consistency in
creation of metadata• Simple descriptions
– are easier and less costly to generate – more effort on the part of searchers to identify
most relevant results – improve probability of cross-disciplinary
interoperability
Metadata Design and Documentation
• Metadata registry / Best practice guide / Data dictionary / Application profile• provides standardized information for the
definition, identification, and use of each data element
• ensure that a metadata schema and data elements in use by an organization can be applied consistently within the organization or community, reused by other communities, and interpreted by computer applications and human users
Value of Metadata Documentation
• Improve discovery of resources.• Increase interoperability across all collections
created by an institution• Increase interoperability with other digital
libraries participating in the Open Archives Initiative
• Inform users on the digital object structure and the software needed to view the digital resource
• Ensure quality control for metadata records• Assist with management and long-term
preservation of digital files
Data Dictionaries (DDs)
• A table with applications of the metadata standard applicable to a specific collection or digital project or type of material
• Lists of local metadata elements• Mapping to Dublin Core• Specifications such as the use of controlled
vocabulary• Examples and comments about the use of each
element
Theses
Books
Images
Best Practice Guides
• Guidance and documentation to describe and standardize the use of metadata elements that best support a community's needs
• Provide guidelines and decisions for metadata creators
• Explanation of metadata elements, terms and concepts
• Examples of the use of the different elements• CDP Metadata Working Group
Dublin Core Metadata Best Practices, Version 2.1.1, Sept. 2006 http://www.cdpheritage.org/cdp/documents/cdpdcmbp.pdf
Metadata Registries
• A metadata registry is a central location in an organization where metadata definitions are stored and maintained in a controlled method (Wikipedia)
• Protected area• Stores data elements• Stores the meaning of a data element• Defines how the metadata is represented
Closing Remarks
“Metadata” means many different things: • It involves applying traditional library principles to new
environments • Good metadata practitioners use fundamental
cataloging principles in non-MARC environments• Documentation is important • Good metadata promotes good digital collections• There is always more to learn
References
• Taylor, Chris. (2003) An Introduction to metadata http://www.library.uq.edu.au/iad/ctmeta4.html
• Technical Advisory Service for Images (TASI). Metadata and digital images. http://www.tasi.ac.uk/advice/delivering/metadata.html
• Technical Advisory Service for Images (TASI). Controlling your language – links to metadata vocabularies http://www.tasi.ac.uk/resources/vocabs.html
• Hodge, Gail. (2001) Metadata made simpler.• Smith, MacKenzie. (2003) Dspace: an open source
dynamic digital repository. D-Lib Magazine, January 2003. http://www.dlib.org/dlib/january03/smith/1smith.html
• Disa Workshop: Digital collections management, University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2004.
References (cont.)
• NISO Framework Advisory Group. A Framework of Guidance for Building Good Digital Collections. 2nd ed. Bethesda, MD: National Information Standards Organization, 2004. http://www.niso.org/framework/framework2.html
• Xia, Jingfeng. Personal name identification in the practice of digital repositories. Electronic library and information systems. Vol. 40, no. 3, 2006. pp. 256-267.
• Miller, Steven J. Metadata for digital collections: an online workshop. University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, School of Information Studies, 2007.
• CDP Metadata Working Group. Dublin Core Metadata Best Practices, Version 2.1.1, Sept. 2006 http://www.cdpheritage.org/cdp/documents/cdpdcmbp.pdf
