Metadata for mere mortals - Part 1: Introduction & the data life cycle Presented by Erin Antognoli, Metadata Librarian Welcome to our first installment of metadata for mere mortals. We say it’s for “mere mortals” because many people who are unfamiliar with data management principles are now faced with managing large and diverse volumes of digital content. This module is the first in a series about understanding metadata, and serves as a basic introduction to the principles and function of metadata. In this video, we will cover: - The different types of metadata - The data life cycle - The FAIR data principles - The role metadata plays in this quest For more information on this webinar, visit: https://lac.gp/MetadataIntro Download our free metadata report, Making sense of metadata: https://lac.gp/MetadataReport Contact us: https://lac-group.com/contact-us/

1. Metadata for mere mortals
Part 1: Metadata & the data life cycle
Erin Antognoli, Metadata Librarian

2. Agenda
01 Introduction to
metadata
Types of metadata
02
03 Data life cycle
04
05
FAIR data principles
Summary

3. Introduction to
metadata01

4. Let’s start at ground zero!
Metadata = data that provides information about
other data.
● Data - can be digital or physical
● Item level metadata – describes a single object
or piece of data
● Collection level metadata – describes a group
of objects or data
What information does metadata collect?
● Who: Creator, author, processor, distributor,
etc.
● What: Name, format, size, color, medium, etc.
● When: Date and time of creation, modification,
transfer, usage, etc.
● Where: Location depicted, location created,
location held, etc.
● Why: Purpose – compliance, quality control,
funding requirement, etc.
● How: Process steps, collection methods,
workflow, etc.

5. Each organization needs to determine
what information is most relevant and
useful to their stakeholders.

6. Metadata provides clarity
Viewing data with a robust and scalable understanding of the importance
of metadata management:
● Cuts back on confusion, misuse, and errors
● Provides focus and direction
● Enables shorter discovery and resolution responses
● Improves integration between sources and targets
● Decreases errors during data processing activities
● Facilitates resolving errors
Every organization can improve productivity,
focus, and overall results by employing better
metadata practices!

7. Types of metadata
02

8. Types of metadata
Descriptive
Technical
Administrative
Preservation
abc 123

9. Descriptive
Enables users to identify, locate and retrieve
information. Keywords and authors are
examples of descriptive metadata
abc 123

10. Technical
Describes the technical processes used to
produce, or required to use a digital object. An
example would be the information that a digital
camera captures automatically about the
camera settings.

11. Administrative
Used to manage administrative aspects of the
digital object such as intellectual property rights
and acquisition. Administrative metadata also
documents information concerning the creation,
alteration and version control of the metadata
itself. This is sometimes known as meta-
metadata!

12. Preservation
Documents actions which have been
undertaken to promote quality control and
preserve a digital resource, such as
documentation of migrations from one server to
another, and checksum calculations.

13. The data life cycle
03

14. The data life cycle

15. FORCE11 FAIR
Principles04

16. FORCE11 FAIR Principles

17. Metadata enables FAIR - Findable
To be findable:
1. (meta)data are assigned a globally unique and eternally
persistent identifier
1. data are described with rich metadata
2. (meta)data are registered or indexed in a searchable resource
3. metadata specify the data identifier

18. Metadata enables FAIR – Accessible
To be accessible:
1. (meta)data are retrievable by their identifier using a
standardized communications protocol
a. the protocol is open, free, and universally implementable
b. the protocol allows for an authentication and
authorization procedure, where necessary
2. metadata are accessible, even when the data are no longer
available

19. Metadata enables FAIR – Interoperable
To be interoperable:
1. (meta)data use a formal, accessible, shared, and broadly
applicable language for knowledge representation
2. (meta)data use vocabularies that follow FAIR principles
3. (meta)data include qualified references to other (meta)data

20. Metadata enables FAIR – Reusable
To be re-usable:
1. meta(data) have a plurality of accurate and relevant attributes
a. (meta)data are released with a clear and accessible
data usage license
b. (meta)data are associated with their provenance
c. (meta)data meet domain-relevant community standards

21. Summary
Metadata matters
● Describes the data
● Provides clarity
● Increases efficiency
Different types of metadata serve distinct functions
● Descriptive
● Technical
● Administrative
● Preservation
FAIR principles
● Findable
● Accessible
● Interoperable
● Reusable

22. Thank You
Presented by Erin Antognoli, Metadata Librarian
For more information, contact us.