2. It is a structured information that describe, explain, locates or otherwise makes it
easier to retrieve, use or manage an information resource.
It is often called as data about data.
It is used differently in different communities. Some use it to refer to machine
readable form, while other only it for records that describe electronic resources.
In library environment, metadata is commonly used for any formal scheme of
resources. Traditional library is a cataloguing form whereas MARC21 and the
rules sets used with it such as AACR2 are metadata standards.
Other metadata schemes have been developed to describe various types of textual
and non-textual objects including books, e-document, arts objects, educational and
training material.
3. Descriptive Metadata: It describe a resource for purposes such as discovery and
identification. It can include element such as title, author, abstract and keywords.
Structural Metadata: It indicated how compound objects are put together. For
e.g. How much pages are ordered to form chapters.
Administrative Metadata: It provides information to help manage a resource
such as when and how it was created, file type and other technical information and
who can access it. There are several subsets of administrative data.
Right management metadata which deals with intellectual property rights.
Preservation metadata which contain information needed to achieve and preserve
a resource.
4. Resource Discovery: Metadata serves the same function in resource discovery as
good cataloguing does by:
Allowing resources to be found by relevant criteria.
Identifying resources.
Bringing similar resources together.
Distinguishing dissimilar resources.
Giving location information.
Organizing Electronic Resources: As number of web based resources grow
exponentially, aggregates sites and portals are increasingly useful in organizing
links to resource based on audience or topic. It is coded in HTML.
5. INTEROPERABILITY:
It is the ability of multiple systems with different H/W and S/W platforms, data
structures and interfaces to exchange data with minimal loss and content of
functionality.
Z39.50 protocol is commonly used for cross system search.
DIGITAL IDENTIFICATION:
Most of the metadata schemes include element such as standard number to
uniquely identify the work or object to which metadata refers.
ARCHIVING AND PRESERVATION:
Metadata is the key to ensuring that resources will survive and continue to
accessible in future.
6. Dublin Core:
Dublin Core metadata set arose from the discussion in 1995 held in Dublin, Ohio. So it was named
as Dublin Core. It is managed by DCMI. Main objective was to define a set of element that could
be used by the authors to describe by their own web resources. For e.g.
Title= “Metadata Demystified”
Creator= “Brand, Amy”
Subject = “metadata”
Description= Presents an overview of data conventions in publications.
Publisher= “NISO Press”
Date=“2003-07”
Type= “Text”
Format=“ Application/pdf”
Language=“en”
Identifier=“http://www.niso.org/standards/resources/metadata_Demystified.pdf”
7. The Text Coding Initiative:
International projects to develop guidelines for marking up e-text such as novel, plays and poetry.
It also specify header option.
It is defined as SGML DTD(Document Type Definition) as set of tags and rules defined in SGML syntax that describe
the structure and element of a document.
Metadata Encoding and Transmission Standard:
Developed to fill the need for a standard data structure for describing complex digital library objects.
XML schema for creating XML document that express the structure of digital library objects. It contains seven major
sections.
METS Header: provide information about document itself including creator, editor.
Descriptive Metadata: Points to descriptive metadata external to METS document.
File Section: List all files containing content that comprise the e-version of object.
Structural Map: Gives structure for digital library object and link elements.
Structural Link: Allows METS creator to record the node in the hierarchy outlined in structural map.
Behavior: Associate executable behavior with contents in METS objects.
Administrative Metadata: Provide information regarding how files are created and stored.
8. Metadata Object Description Schema:
It is derivative of MARC21 and intended to either carry selected data from existing MARC21 records
or enable the creation of digital resources.
The Encoded Archival Description:
Developed as a way of marking up data contained in finding aids so that they can be searched and
displayed online.
Learning Object Metadata:
The attributes are grouped into 8 categories.
General
Life cycle
Technical
Educational
Rights
Relation
Annotation
Classification
9. E-Commerce-<indeces> and ONIX:
It was developed to support e-commerce application.
Visual Objects- CDWA and VRA:
CDWA- Categories for the description of works of art.
VRA- Visual Resource Access
Used to describe visual objects such as painting or sculpture.
MPEG Multimedia Metadata:
A suit of standard for coded representation of digital audio and video.
Two of the standards address metadata: MPEG-7 and MPEG-21.
10. Creation tools of metadata falls into several categories.
Template: Allow a user to enter metadata value in present field that match the
element set being used.
Markup Tool: It will structure the metadata attribute and value into specific
schema language.
Extraction Tool: It will automatically create an metadata for analysis of digital
resources.
Conversion Tool: It will transfer from one format to another.
11. Creation of metadata automatically or by information or originator who are not
familiar with cataloguing, indexing etc.. Can create quality problems.
Six Principles applying to metadata:
Good metadata should be appropriate to material in collection.
Support interoperability.
Uses standard control vocabulary to reflect the what, where and who of the
control.
Clear statement on the condition and term of use for digital objects.
Good metadata records are objects themselves and there should have quality of
achievability.
Support long term management.
12. Improving features such as template, pick lists.
S/W interoperability.
Content originator are being formally trained in understanding metadata and
controlled vocabulary concept and in use of metadata related S/W.
Existing controlled vocabulary that may be initially been designed for a specific
use or an narrow audience are getting broader use and awareness.
Communities of the user developing and refining audience specific metadata
schema, application profile, controlled vocabularies and user guidelines.