1. Metadata in Concept and Practice
K R I S T I PA L M E R K L PA L M E R @ I U P U I . E D U
F E B RUA RY 4 , 2 0 1 3
http://www.niso.org/standards/resources/UnderstandingMetadata.pdf
2. what is metadata?
you tell me. . .
information about information
“structured information that describes, explains, locates, or
otherwise makes it easier to retrieve, use, or manage an
information resource.”*
“value added information that is created to
arrange, describe, track and otherwise enhance access to
information objects.”**
cataloging is creating metadata. . .how is it different?
*Understanding Metadata by NISO Press (2004), p. 1.
** Gillaland-Swetland, A. J. (2000). Introduction to Metadata: Setting the Stage.
www.getty.edu/research/institute/standards/intrometadata/, p. 2.
3. why is metadata important?
find what we are looking for
find what we didn’t know we were looking for
assembling items that have something in common
finding out how items are different
accessing an item
preserving an item
sharing an item/information easily
tells us how an item is used
indicates authenticity
inform of legal issues
4. STANDARDIZE
If metadata is to be effective on a broader
scale we must. . .
use standardize forms of metadata,
use a standard that is specific to our purpose for creating the
information,
use a standard that considers the audience or information users.
6. 3 main types/forms of metadata
1. descriptive metadata
describes a resource for purposes of discovery and
identification
it’s the words you can search by
2. structural metadata
indicates how objects are put together, for ex. the order
of pages in a chapter
it’s technical, behind the scenes metadata
7. 3 main types/forms of metadata
3. administrative metadata
provides information to help manage a resource
it is also often, behind the scenes metadata
rights management metadata
copyright, usage rights information
preservation metadata
archiving and preservation information
8. ** Gillaland-Swetland, A. J. (2000). Introduction to Metadata: Setting the Stage. www.getty.edu/research/institute/standards/intrometadata/, p. 5
9. each metadata standard has. . .
element set
the list of fields (and their definition) in a metadata standard
for example, Title is one item in a Dublin Core element set
content rules (optional)
the rules for constructing the elements that will be a part of this
field
for example, Capitalize first word in field and end with a period
OR the Title of the item can only be taken from words written
on the first page of the document are rules for the Title element
syntax rules (optional)
the rules for tagging or encoding the metadata scheme
for example, Dublin Core schemes use XML tagging
10. Example metadata standards
Dublin Core all encompassing (descriptive)
TEI literature
MARC libraries (traditional catalog data)
METS libraries (structuring descriptive data)
ONIX publishers
CSDGM data sets, geospatial info. (for GIS)
GEM educational materials
VRA Core art, visual works
EAD archives, special collections, finding aids
RDF web data, characterized by triplicates, used in
linked data, allows integration of various
standards
11. example public and xml records
public record
https://scholarworks.iupui.edu/handle/1805/640
METS XML with DC
https://scholarworks.iupui.edu/metadata/handle/1805/640/mets.xml
12. standards: controlled vocabulary
LCSH general, can combine terms to make more complex headings
TGM I and II graphic materials, photos, prints
AAT architecture, paintings, sculpture, art in general
TGN place, geographic names
GEM education materials
MeSH medical terms
Extensive list of vocabularies at: Taxonomy Warehouse
13. metadata crosswalks
Metadata crosswalks translate one field in a particular
organizing scheme or database into another field of
another organizing scheme or database.
http://www.getty.edu/research/publications/electronic_publicatio
ns/intrometadata/crosswalks.html
14. standards: descriptive metadata schemes
schemes or element sets
Dublin Core all encompassing
TEI literature
MARC libraries
ONIX publishers
CSDGM data sets, geospatial info. (for GIS)
GEM educational materials
VRA Core art, visual works
EAD archives, special collections, finding
aids
16. let’s practice: Indianapolis Sanborn Maps
Decide:
Who is your audience?
How will this audience access, search, interact?
What elements do you want to describe?
What DC tags will you connect to each described element?
What public field name will you give each DC tag?
Will you use any controlled vocabularies if so for what described element?
17. what did you come up with?
What does your metadata schema and record look like?
Example Sanborn collections
Indianapolis http://indiamond6.ulib.iupui.edu/cdm/ref/collection/SanbornJP2/id/473
Milwaukee http://collections.lib.uwm.edu/cdm/landingpage/collection/san
Pennsylvania http://collection1.libraries.psu.edu/cdm/ref/collection/maps1/id/2198
Georgia http://dlg.galileo.usg.edu/sanb/id:dublin_ga-1913-s-4
Nevada http://www.delamare.unr.edu/maps/digitalcollections/nvmaps/sanborns/
18. Thinking about digital
history and going beyond
making paper digital…
What datasets could
you imagine connecting
to these maps?
What other ways of
map interaction can you
imagine?