An introduction to metadata by Kristi Palmer (IUPUI Library)

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.

5. examples of metadata
 amazon
 ebay
 art.com
 allrecipes
 google maps
 mibor

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

15. let’s examine a record at depth

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?

19. questions?