Understanding

Metadata

What is Metadata? .................................................................................................. 1

What Does Metadata Do? ................................................................................ 1
Structuring Metadata ................................................................................. 2
Metadata Schemes and Element Sets ............................................... 3
Dublin Core ..................................................................................................................... 3
TEI and METS .............................................................................................................. 4
MODS ....................................................................................................................... 5
EAD and LOM ...................................................................................................... 6
<indecs>, ONIX, CDWA, and VRA .................................................................. 7
MPEG .......................................................................................................... 8
FGDC and DDI ........................................................................................ 9

Creating Metadata ................................................ 10

Interoperability and Exchange of Metadata ....11
Future Directions .................................... 12
More Information on Metadata ........ 13
Glossary ...................................... 15
Acknowledgements
Understanding Metadata is a revision and expansion of Metadata Made
Simpler: A guide for libraries published by NISO Press in 2001.
NISO Press extends its thanks and appreciation to Rebecca Guenther
and Jacqueline Radebaugh, staff members in the Library of Congress
Network Development and MARC Standards Office, for sharing their
expertise and contributing to this publication.

About NISO
NISO, a non-profit association accredited by the American National
Standards Institute (ANSI), identifies, develops, maintains, and publishes
technical standards to manage information in our changing and ever-more
digital environment. NISO standards apply both traditional and new
technologies to the full range of information-related needs, including
retrieval, re-purposing, storage, metadata, and preservation. NISO
Standards, information about NISO’s activities and membership are
featured on the NISO website <http://www.niso.org>.

This booklet is available for free on the NISO website

(www.niso.org) and in hardcopy from NISO Press.

Published by:
NISO Press
National Information Standards Organization
4733 Bethesda Avenue, Suite 300
Bethesda, MD 20814 USA
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 301-654-2512
Fax: 301-654-1721
URL: www.niso.org

Copyright © 2004 National Information Standards Organization

ISBN: 1-880124-62-9
 Understanding Metadata
What Is Metadata? administrative data; two that in the headers of image files.
sometimes are listed as separate Storing metadata with the object it
Metadata is structured infor-
metadata types are: describes ensures the metadata will
mation that describes, explains,
not be lost, obviates problems of
locates, or otherwise makes it − Rights management meta- linking between data and metadata,
easier to retrieve, use, or manage data, which deals with and helps ensure that the metadata
an information resource. Metadata intellectual property rights, and object will be updated together.
is often called data about data or and However, it is impossible to embed
information about information.
− Preservation metadata, which metadata in some types of objects
The term metadata is used contains information needed (for example, artifacts). Also, storing
differently in different communities. to archive and preserve a metadata separately can simplify
Some use it to refer to machine resource. the management of the metadata
understandable information, while itself and facilitate search and
others use it only for records that Metadata can describe re- retrieval. Therefore, metadata is
describe electronic resources. In sources at any level of aggregation. commonly stored in a database
the library environment, metadata It can describe a collection, a single system and linked to the objects
is commonly used for any formal resource, or a component part of a described.
scheme of resource description, larger resource (for example, a
applying to any type of object, digital photograph in an article). Just as
What Does
or non-digital. Traditional library
cataloging is a form of metadata; Metadata Do?
MARC 21 and the rule sets used Metadata is key An important reason for creating
with it, such as AACR2, are
metadata standards. Other
to ensuring that descriptive metadata is to facilitate
discovery of relevant information. In
metadata schemes have been resources will addition to resource discovery,
developed to describe various types survive and metadata can help organize
of textual and non-textual objects continue to be electronic resources, facilitate
including published books, interoperability and legacy resource
electronic documents, archival accessible into integration, provide digital
finding aids, art objects, educational the future. identification, and support archiving
and training materials, and scientific and preservation.
datasets.
catalogers make decisions about Resource Discovery
There are three main types of
metadata: whether a catalog record should be Metadata serves the same
created for a whole set of volumes functions in resource discovery as
• Descriptive metadata describes or for each particular volume in the good cataloging does by:
a resource for purposes such as
discovery and identification. It
set, so the metadata creator makes • allowing resources to be found
similar decisions. Metadata can also by relevant criteria;
can include elements such as be used for description at any level
title, abstract, author, and of the information model laid out in • identifying resources;
keywords. the IFLA (International Federation • bringing similar resources
• Structural metadata indicates of Library Associations and
together;
how compound objects are put Institutions) Functional Require-
together, for example, how ments for Bibliographic Records: • distinguishing dissimilar re-
pages are ordered to form work, expression, manifestation, or sources; and
chapters. item. For example, a metadata
record could describe a report, a • giving location information.
• Administrative metadata pro- particular edition of the report, or a
vides information to help specific copy of that edition of the
Organizing Electronic
manage a resource, such as report. Resources
when and how it was created, file Metadata can be embedded in As the number of Web-based
type and other technical a digital object or it can be stored resources grows exponentially,
information, and who can access separately. Metadata is often aggregate sites or portals are
it. There are several subsets of embedded in HTML documents and increasingly useful in organizing

Page 1
links to resources based on digital object may also be given The latter group developed a
audience or topic. Such lists can be using a file name, URL (Uniform framework outlining types of
built as static webpages, with the Resource Locator), or some more presentation metadata. A follow-up
names and locations of the persistent identifier such as a PURL group, PREMIS (PREservation
resources “hardcoded” in the (Persistent URL) or DOI (Digital Metadata: Implementation Strat-
HTML. However, it is more efficient Object Identifier). Persistent egies)—also sponsored by OCLC
and increasingly more common to identifiers are preferred because and RLG—is developing a set of
build these pages dynamically from object locations often change, core elements and strategies for the
metadata stored in databases. making the standard URL (and encoding, storage, and manage-
Various software tools can be used therefore the metadata record) ment of preservation metadata
to automatically extract and invalid. In addition to the actual within a digital preservation system.
reformat the information for Web elements that point to the object, the Many of these initiatives are based
applications. metadata can be combined to act on or compatible with the ISO
as a set of identifying data, Reference Model for an Open
Interoperability differentiating one object from Archival Information System
Describing a resource with another for validation purposes. (OAIS).
metadata allows it to be understood
by both humans and machines in Archiving and
Preservation
Structuring Metadata
ways that promote interoperability.
Interoperability is the ability of Metadata schemes (also called
Most current metadata efforts
multiple systems with different schema) are sets of metadata
center around the discovery of
hardware and software platforms, elements designed for a specific
recently created resources.
data structures, and interfaces to purpose, such as describing a
However, there is a growing
exchange data with minimal loss of particular type of information
concern that digital resources will
content and functionality. Using resource. The definition or meaning
not survive in usable form into the
defined metadata schemes, shared of the elements themselves is
future. Digital information is fragile;
transfer protocols, and crosswalks known as the semantics of the
it can be corrupted or altered,
between schemes, resources scheme. The values given to
intentionally or unintentionally. It
across the network can be metadata elements are the content.
may become unusable as storage
searched more seamlessly. Metadata schemes generally
media and hardware and software
specify names of elements and their
Two approaches to inter- technologies change. Format
semantics. Optionally, they may
operability are cross-system search migration and perhaps emulation of
specify content rules for how
and metadata harvesting. The current hardware and software
content must be formulated (for
Z39.50 protocol is commonly used behavior in future hardware and
example, how to identify the main
for cross-system search. Z39.50 software platforms are strategies for
title), representation rules for
implementers do not share overcoming these challenges.
content (for example, capitalization
metadata but map their own search Metadata is key to ensuring that rules), and allowable content values
capabilities to a common set of resources will survive and continue (for example, terms must be used
search attributes. A contrasting to be accessible into the future. from a specified controlled
approach taken by the Open Archiving and preservation require vocabulary).
Archives Initiative is for all data special elements to track the
providers to translate their native There may also be syntax rules
lineage of a digital object (where it
metadata to a common core set of for how the elements and their
came from and how it has changed
elements and expose this for content should be encoded. A
over time), to detail its physical
harvesting. A search service metadata scheme with no
characteristics, and to document its
provider then gathers the metadata prescribed syntax rules is called
behavior in order to emulate it on
into a consistent central index to syntax independent. Metadata can
future technologies.
allow cross-repository searching be encoded in any definable syntax.
Many organizations inter- Many current metadata schemes
regardless of the metadata formats nationally have worked on defining
used by participating repositories. use SGML (Standard Generalized
metadata schemes for digital Mark-up Language) or XML
Digital Identification preservation, including the National (Extensible Mark-up Language).
Library of Australia, the British XML, developed by the World Wide
Most metadata schemes include
Cedars Project (CURL Exemplars Web Consortium (W3C), is an
elements such as standard
in Digital Archives), and a joint extended form of HTML that allows
numbers to uniquely identify the
Working Group of OCLC and the for locally defined tag sets and the
work or object to which the
Research Libraries Group (RLG). easy exchange of structured
metadata refers. The location of a

Page 2 Understanding Metadata

information. SGML is a superset of some complexity. There has for libraries is being developed by
both HTML and XML and allows for historically been some tension the Libraries Working Group.
the richest mark-up of a document. between supporters of a minimalist
Useful XML tools are becoming view, who emphasize the
widely available as XML plays an need to keep the elements Dublin Core Example
increasingly crucial role in the to a minimum and the
exchange of a variety of data on the semantics and syntax
Title=”Metadata Demystified”
Web. simple, and supporters of
a structuralist view who Creator=”Brand, Amy”
Metadata Schemes and argue for finer semantic
Creator=”Daly, Frank”
distinctions and more
Element Sets extensibility for particular Creator=”Meyers, Barbara”
Many different metadata communities.
Subject=”metadata”
schemes are being developed in a These discussions
variety of user environments and have led to a distinction Description=”Presents an overview of
disciplines. Some of the most between qualified and metadata conventions in
common ones are discussed in this publishing.”
unqualified (or simple)
section. Dublin Core. Qualifiers can Publisher=”NISO Press”
Dublin Core be used to refine (narrow
the scope of) an element, Publisher=”The Sheridan Press”
The Dublin Core Metadata or to identify the encoding Date=”2003-07"
Element Set arose from discussions scheme used in repre-
at a 1995 workshop sponsored by senting an element value. Type=”Text”
OCLC and the National Center for The element Date, for Format=”application/pdf”
Supercomputing Applications example, can be used with
(NCSA). As the workshop was held the refinement qualifier Identifier=”http://www.niso.org/
in Dublin, Ohio, the element set was standards/resources/
created to narrow the Metadata_Demystified.pdf”
named the Dublin Core. The meaning of the element to
continuing development of the the date the object was Language=”en”
Dublin Core and related spec- created. Date can also be
ifications is managed by the Dublin used with an encoding scheme Because of its simplicity, the
Core Metadata Initiative (DCMI). qualifier to identify the format in Dublin Core element set is now
The original objective of the which the date is recorded, for used by many outside the library
Dublin Core was to define a set of example, following the ISO 8601 c o m m u n i t y — r e s e a r c h e r s ,
elements that could be used by standard for representing date and museum curators, and music
authors to describe their own Web time. collectors to name only a few. There
resources. Faced with a pro- All Dublin Core elements are are hundreds of projects worldwide
liferation of electronic resources optional and all are repeatable. The that use the Dublin Core either for
and the inability of the library elements may be presented in any cataloging or to collect data from the
profession to catalog all these order. While the Dublin Core Internet; more than 50 of these have
resources, the goal was to define a description recommends the use of links on the DCMI website. The
few elements and some simple controlled values for fields where subjects range from cultural
rules that could be applied by they are appropriate (for example, heritage and art to math and
noncatalogers. The original 13 core controlled vocabularies for the physics. Meanwhile the Dublin Core
elements were later increased to Subject field), this is not required. Metadata Initiative has expanded
15: Title, Creator, Subject, Descrip- However, working groups have beyond simply maintaining the
tion, Publisher, Contributor, Date, been established to discuss Dublin Core Metadata Element Set
Type, Format, Identifier, Source, authoritative lists for certain into an organization that describes
Language, Relation, Coverage, and elements such as Resource Type. itself as “dedicated to promoting the
Rights. While Dublin Core leaves content widespread adoption of inter-
The Dublin Core was developed rules to the particular imple- operable metadata standards and
to be simple and concise, and to mentation, the DCMI encourages developing specialized metadata
describe Web-based documents. the adoption of application profiles vocabularies for discovery
However, Dublin Core has been (domain-specific rules) for particular systems.”
used with other types of materials domains such as education and
and in applications demanding government. An application profile

Understanding Metadata Page 3

The Text Encoding Metadata Encoding and an encoding format for metadata
Initiative (TEI) Transmission Standard for textual and image-based works.
The Digital Library Federation (DLF)
The Text Encoding Initiative is an (METS) built on that earlier work to create
international project to develop The Metadata Encoding and METS, a standard schema for
guidelines for marking up electronic Transmission Standard (METS) providing a method for expressing
texts such as novels, plays, and was developed to fill the need for a and packaging together descriptive,
poetry, primarily to support research standard data structure for administrative, and structural
in the humanities. In addition to describing complex digital library metadata for objects within a digital
specifying how to encode the text objects. METS is an XML Schema library. Expressed using the XML
of a work, the TEI Guidelines for for creating XML document schema language, METS provides
Electronic Text Encoding and instances that express the structure a document format for encoding the
Interchange also specify a header of digital library objects, the metadata necessary for manage-
portion, embedded in the resource, associated descriptive and ment of digital library objects within
that consists of metadata about the administrative metadata, and the a repository and for exchange
work. The TEI header, like the rest names and locations of the files that between repositories.
of the TEI, is defined as an SGML comprise the digital object.
DTD (Document Type Definition)— The metadata nec-
a set of tags and rules defined in essary for successful Metadata in Action
SGML syntax that describe the management and use of
structure and elements of a An oral historian makes tape-
digital objects is both more recordings of interviews with members of
document. This SGML mark-up extensive than and a particular ethnic group. Interviewees
becomes part of the electronic different from the sign a paper release form giving
resource itself. Since the TEI DTD metadata used for intellectual property rights to the historian.
is rather large and complicated in managing collections of Most interviewees grant permission to
order to apply to a vast range of printed works and other disseminate the interviews in print and
texts and uses, a simpler subset of physical materials. electronically, but several restrict
the DTD, known as TEI Lite, is publication and dissemination until 25
Structural metadata is years after death.
commonly used in libraries. needed to ensure that
It is assumed that TEI-encoded Information about each interview is
separately digitized files kept in a database: Interviewer,
texts are electronic versions of (for example, different Interviewee, Date, Place, etc. Each
printed texts. Therefore the TEI pages of a digitized book) interview follows a questionnaire format.
Header can be used to record are structured appro- The questionnaire exists as a text file. The
bibliographic information about both priately. Technical tapes, release forms, database, and text
the electronic version of the text and metadata is needed for file are donated to a library that has a
about the non-electronic source information about the special collection focusing on the particular
version. The basic bibliographic digitization process so ethnic group.
information is similar to that that scholars may The tapes are digitized. Since each
recorded in library cataloging and determine how accurate a interview runs over several tapes,
can be mapped to and from MARC. technicians record structural metadata to
reflection of the original
However, there are also elements keep component parts of each interview
the digital version together. Technicians record
defined to record details about how provides. Other technical administrative metadata such as file
the text was transcribed and edited, metadata is required for names, location of each interview in the
how mark-up was performed, what internal purposes in order files, equipment used, the methods of
revisions were made, and other to periodically refresh and digitizing and assuring quality and
non-bibliographic facts. Libraries migrate the data, ensuring completeness, file formats, etc. Different
tend to use TEI headers when they the durability of valuable segments of this metadata allow the audio
have collections of SGML-encoded resources. files to be automatically tracked, accessed,
full text. Some libraries use TEI stored, refreshed, and migrated.
METS was originally
headers to derive MARC records for An archivist expands the database to
an outgrowth of the include the persistent identifier of each
their catalogs, while others use Making of America II interview, thereby linking the audio file to
MARC records as the basis for project, a digitization the descriptive metadata. The names of
creating TEI header descriptions for project of major research the data elements are revised to match
the source texts. libraries that attempted to Dublin Core terminology, including
address these metadata qualifiers used specifically for audio
issues, in part by providing (continued on page 5)

Page 4 Understanding Metadata

 A METS document contains • Administrative Metadata – called MIX, Metadata for Images in
seven major sections: Provides information regarding XML Schema, and is based on a
• METS Header – Contains how the files are created and proposed NISO standard, Z39.87,
metadata describing the METS stored, intellectual property Data Dictionary: Technical
document itself, including such rights, the original source object Metadata for Digital Still Images.
information as creator, editor, from which the digital library Further work is in process on
etc. object derives, and the prov- extension schemas for audio, video,
enance of the files comprising and websites. Another current area
• Descriptive Metadata – Points to the digital library object. of concentration for the METS
descriptive metadata external to development community is the
the METS document (for • File Section – Lists all files creation of METS application
example, a MARC record in an containing content that comprise profiles to give guidance regarding
OPAC or an Encoded Archival the electronic versions of the the creation of METS documents for
Description finding aid main- digital object. particular object types.
tained on a webserver), or to • Structural Map – Outlines a Use of the METS schema is
internally embedded descriptive widespread. A list of implementation
hierarchical structure for the
metadata, or both. registries using METS, a tutorial,
digital library object and links the
elements of that structure and other important information can
Metadata in Action to content files and be found on the METS website.
(continued from page 4) metadata that pertain to
Metadata Object
materials. Information on rights and each element.
permissions is entered.
Description Schema
• Structural Links – (MODS)
An archivist creates an EAD finding
Allows METS creators to
aid for the audio collection using the The Metadata Object
database as the core. Portions of the record the nodes in the
hierarchy outlined in the Description Schema (MODS) is a
questionnaire text file are incorporated as
a rich source of subject keywords. A MARC Structural Map. descriptive metadata schema that
record is derived from the EAD finding aid is a derivative of MARC 21 and
and added to OCLC and RLIN.
• Behavior – intended to either carry selected
Associates executable data from existing MARC 21
A webpage is created where
researchers can access the finding aid, behaviors with content in records or enable the creation of
search the database, and listen to the the METS object. original resource description
audio files. Interviews coded as restricted The METS header, file records. It includes a subset of
are invisible to the search program until MARC fields and uses language-
section, structural map,
the date when they become open to the based tags rather than the numeric
public. Administrative, structural, and structural links, and
behavior sections are ones used in MARC 21 records. In
descriptive metadata is created for the
some cases, it regroups elements
webpage to hold all the pieces together, defined within the METS
allow them to be managed, and allow schema. METS is less from the MARC 21 bibliographic
them to be accessed. prescriptive about format. Like METS, MODS is
The library participates in a metadata descriptive and admin- expressed using the XML schema
harvesting protocol to provide extracts of istrative metadata, relying language.
local metadata in a common format to a on extension schemas— Although the MODS standard
service provider so that information about externally developed can stand on its own, it may also
the collection is automatically included in metadata schemes—to complement other metadata
a number of relevant tools such as formats. Because of its flexibility
provide specific elements.
catalogs and portals.
The METS Editorial Board and use of XML, MODS may
The webpage is linked to the library’s potentially be used as a Z39.50
website dedicated to resources about the
has endorsed three
descriptive metadata Next Generation specified format,
ethnic group, where it is available to
researchers in context with archival and schemes: simple Dublin an extension schema to METS, a
visual materials, digitized secondary Core, MARCXML, and metadata set for harvesting, and for
sources, etc. Administrative, structural, MODS (discussed below). creating original resource metadata
and descriptive metadata at the website For technical metadata records in an XML syntax.
level has also been created. the METS website makes Rich description of electronic
available schemas for text resources is a particular focus of
and digital still images. MODS, which provides some
The latter standard is advantages over other metadata

Understanding Metadata Page 5

 the EAD DTD provides
A MODS Record Example support for both SGML
<mods> and XML through the use
<titleInfo> of defined “switches” for
<title>Metadata demystified</title>
turning off features used
</titleInfo>
<name type=”personal”> only in SGML and turning
<namePart type=”family”>Brand</namePart> on features used only in
<namePart type=”given”>Amy</namePart> XML. The EAD standard
<role> is maintained jointly by the
<roleTerm authority=”marcrelator” type=”text”>author</roleTerm> Library of Congress and
</role>
the Society of American
</name>
<typeOfResource>text</typeOfResource> Archivists.
<originInfo> The EAD is particularly
<dateIssued>2003</dateIssued> popular in academic
<place> libraries, historical
<placeTerm type=”text”>Bethesda, MD</placeTerm>
</place>
societies, and museums
<publisher>NISO Press</publisher> with large special
</originInfo> collections. Many of these
<identifier type=”isbn”>1-880124-59-9</identifier> collections contain unique
</mods> materials unavailable
elsewhere and often the
schemes. MODS elements are description. Finding aids differ from materials in the
richer than the Dublin Core; its catalog records by being much collections are not individually
elements are more compatible with longer, more narrative and cataloged like traditional library
library data than the ONIX or Dublin explanatory, and highly structured in materials. By creating searchable
Core standards; and it is simpler to a hierarchical fashion. They EAD finding aids, libraries and
apply than the full MARC 21 generally start with a description of archives can increase awareness of
bibliographic format. With its use of the collection as a whole, indicating their unique collections to the
XML Schema language, MODS what types of materials it contains Internet community.
offers enhancements over MARC and why they are important. If the Learning Object Metadata
21, such as the use of an optional collection consists of the personal
ID attribute to facilitate linking at the papers of an individual there can be The IEEE Learning Technology
element level; the ability to specify a lengthy biography of that person. Standards Committee (LTSC)
language, script, and transliteration The finding aid describes the series developed the Learning Object
scheme at the element level; and into which the collection is Metadata (LOM) standard (IEEE
the ability to embed a rich organized—such as corres- 1484.12.1-2002) to enable the use
description of components in the pondence, business records, and re-use of technology-supported
related Item element. personal papers, and campaign learning resources such as
The ability in MODS to give speeches—and ends with an computer-based training and
granular descriptions of constituent itemization of the contents of the distance learning. The LOM defines
parts of an object works particularly physical boxes and folders the minimal set of attributes to man-
well with the METS structural map comprising the collection. age, locate, and evaluate learning
for complex digital library objects. Like the TEI Header, the EAD is objects. The attributes are grouped
defined as an SGML DTD. It begins into eight categories:
The Encoded Archival with a header section that describes • General, containing information
Description (EAD) the finding aid itself (for example, about the object as a whole;
The Encoded Archival who wrote it) and then goes on to
the description of the collection as • Lifecycle, containing metadata
Description (EAD) was developed about the objects evolution;
as a way of marking up the data a whole and successively more
contained in finding aids so that they detailed information about the • Technical, with descriptions of
can be searched and displayed records or series within the the technical characteristics and
online. collection. If individual items being requirements;
described exist in digital form, the
In archives and special • Educational, containing the
EAD can include pointers to the
collections, the finding aid is an educational / pedagogical
digital objects. The 2002 version of
important tool for resource attributes;

Page 6 Understanding Metadata

• Rights, describing the intellectual allow various schemes for sculpture has its own special
property rights and use transactions related to different requirements. The Art Information
conditions; genres such as music, journal Task Force (AITF), developed a
articles, and books to be able to conceptual framework for describ-
• Relation, identifying related interchange information, particularly ing and accessing information about
objects; that related to intellectual property objects and images called
• Annotation, containing com- rights. In order to support this Categories for the Descriptions of
ments and the date and author common framework, <indecs> has Works of Art (CDWA). Some 30
of the comments; and developed a minimal kernel of categories were defined, most with
required metadata. multiple subcategories. Some
• Classification, which identifies Several organizations have built examples of the specialized
other classification system on the <indecs> Framework to descriptive elements relevant to
identifiers for the object. develop specific metadata schemas. artworks included are: Orientation,
Within each category is a Among them is the ONIX (Online Dimensions, Condition, Inscrip-
hierarchy of data elements to which Information Exchange) International tions, Conservation Treatment, and
the metadata values are assigned. standard. ONIX is an XML-based Exhibition / Loan History.
Examples of learning-related metadata scheme developed by Typically, visual resources
metadata elements found in the publishers under the auspices of a collections used in teaching art
Education category are Typical Age number of book industry trade history and similar subjects do not
Range (of the intended user), groups in the United States and contain original art works but rather
Difficulty, Typical Learning Time, Europe. The original ONIX slides or photographs of the original
and Interactivity Level. specification was a direct response art. Metadata for these materials
The IMS Global Learning to the enormous growth in online therefore has to accommodate the
Consortium has developed a suite book sales and the realization that description of multiple levels of
of specifications to enable books described with images, cover related resources, such as an
interoperability in a learning blurbs, reviews, and similar original painting, a slide of the
environment. Their Meta-Data information significantly outsold painting, and a digitized image of
Information Model specification is books without this information. the slide. The VRA Core Categories
based on the IEEE LOM scheme Therefore ONIX for Books has build on and expand the CDWA
with only minor modifications. elements to record a wide range of work to define a single metadata
evaluative and promotional infor- element set that can be used to
E-Commerce – <indecs> mation as well as basic bibliographic describe the work (the actual
and ONIX and trade data. ONIX for Serials is painting, photograph, sculpture,
in development to define serials building, etc. ) as well as the images
Metadata schemas are product metadata at the title, item, (visual representations) of them.
increasingly being developed to and subscription package levels. Version 3.0 of the VRA Core
support electronic commerce
While ONIX information was Categories consists of 17 metadata
applications. The <indecs>
designed for use in the commerce elements which can be used as
Framework (Interoperability of Data
cycle of a publication, it may also applicable to describe each of these
in ECommerce Systems) was an
provide a source for enrichment of versions and relate them to each
international collaborative effort
library-created catalog records; the other: Record Type, Type, Title,
supported by the European
Bibliographic Enrichment Advisory Measurements, Material, Tech-
Commission’s Info 2000 Pro-
Team (BEAT) project at the Library nique, Creator, Date, Location, ID
gramme. The collaborators were
of Congress is experimenting with Number, Style/Period, Culture,
major rights owners, such as
this use. ONIX metadata may also Subject, Relation, Description,
publishers and members of the
be used by libraries in the future for Source, and Rights. Like the Dublin
recording industry, who wanted to
the creation of a beginning Core, the VRA Core scheme does
develop a framework for metadata
bibliographic record. Mappings not specify any particular syntax or
standards to support network
between ONIX for Books and both rules for representing content.
commerce in intellectual property.
MARC 21 and UNIMARC have Both CDWA and VRA
The foundation of the <indecs> already been created. emphasize the use of controlled
work is a data model for intellectual
Visual Objects – CDWA vocabularies for specified elements.
property and its transfer. Rather
A number of existing vocabularies
than developing a new metadata and VRA are suggested and communities are
scheme, <indecs> sought to
Metadata used to describe visual encouraged to develop additional
develop a common framework to
objects such as a painting or vocabularies as needed.

Understanding Metadata Page 7

MPEG Multimedia particular applications of audio. The for the framework. It was issued
Metadata cross-application low-level descrip- as an ISO technical report (ISO/
tors cover Structures and Features IEC TR 21000:1-2001) and is
The ISO/IEC Moving Picture (temporal and spectral). The available as a free download
Experts Group (MPEG) has domain-specific high-level descrip- from ISO’s publicly available
developed a suite of standards for tors include such elements as standards website. A second
coded representation of digital Musical Instrument Timbre, Melody edition of the vision document is
audio and video. Two of the Description, and Spoken Content underway to address comments
standards address metadata: Description. and suggestions received from
MPEG-7, Multimedia Content The Description Schemes are other organizations following the
Description Interface (ISO/IEC based on XML, and can be initial publication.
15938), and MPEG-21, Multimedia expressed in textual form suitable
Framework (ISO/IEC 21000). • Part 2: Digital Item Declaration,
for editing, searching, filtering, and issued in 2003, describes a
MPEG-7 defines the metadata human readability; or in a binary model for defining Digital Items.
elements, structure, and rela- form for storage, transmission, and It includes a description of the
tionships that are used to describe streaming delivery. Since the full syntax and semantics of each of
audiovisual objects including still description of a multimedia object the Digital Item Declaration
pictures, graphics, 3D models, can be quite complex, the standard elements and a corresponding
music, audio, speech, video, or provides for a Summary Description XML schema.
multimedia collections. It is a multi- Scheme geared to browsing and
part standard that addresses: navigation. • Part 3: Digital Item Identification,
• Description Tools including The standard envisions that also issued in 2003, describes
Descriptors that define the search engines could use MPEG-7 how to uniquely identify Digital
syntax and the semantics of metadata descriptions to identify Items and how to link Digital
each metadata element and audiovisual objects in entirely new Items with related information
Description Schemes that ways, such as digitizing a musical such as descriptive metadata.
specify the structure and phrase played on a keyboard and • Part 4: Intellectual Property
semantics of the relationships then retrieving a list of musical Management and Protection is
between the elements. pieces that contain the sequence of still in development. It is intended
notes; drawing some lines on an
• A Description Definition Lang- electronic drawing tablet and
to define the framework for
uage to define the syntax of the ensuring interoperability of
retrieving images with similar intellectual property manage-
Description Tools, allow the graphics; or using a voice excerpt
creation of new Description ment tools, including authen-
to retrieve related speech files, tication, and accommodates the
Schemes, and allow the photographs, video clips, and
extension and modification of Rights information defined in the
biographical information of the following two parts.
existing Description Schemes. speaker. These retrieval mech-
• System tools, to support storage anisms are outside the scope of • Part 5: Rights Expression
and transmission, synch- MPEG-7, but the standards Language, issued in 2004, is a
ronization of descriptions with developers wanted to machine-readable language that
content, and management and accommodate these futuristic can declare rights and per-
protection of intellectual property. capabilities and have included missions.
many interoperability requirements
Descriptors for visual and audio • Part 6: Rights Data Dictionary is
beyond the typical metadata
are defined separately using a still in development. It will define
elements.
hierarchy of elements and sub- a standard set of terms to be
MPEG-21 was developed to used with the Rights Expression
elements. For visual objects there
address the need for an overarching Language. It is also expected to
are descriptors for Basic Structure,
framework to ensure interoperability include specifications for
Color, Texture, Shape, Motion,
of digital multimedia objects. The mapping and transforming rights
Localization, and Face Recognition.
multi-part standard is not yet fully metadata terminology. The
Audio descriptors are divided into
completed but is intended to include Rights Data Dictionary and
two categories: low-level
the following: Expression Language are being
descriptors that are common to
audio objects across most • Part 1: Vision, Technologies and viewed as models for the
applications, and high-level Strategy provides the overview handling of intellectual property
descriptors that are specific to of the complete vision and plan metadata for applications
beyond audiovisual.

Page 8 Understanding Metadata

• Part 7: Digital Item Adaptation, Documentation Initiative (DDI) information resources. The profile
also in development, is intended standard for describing social defines an extended set of data for
to standardize networking and science datasets. The DDI is describing biological data, such as
interoperability description tools. defined as an XML DTD, and allows the taxonomic name of the
Included in this part will be User for top down hierarchical description organism and its classification in the
Characteristic description tools of a social science study, the data taxonomic hierarchy.
that specify user preferences. files resulting from that
study, and the variables Metadata in Action
There are some seven additional
used in the data files. A county land planner is studying the
parts identified and in various
There is also a header impact of new zoning laws on a particular
stages of development that deal
area that uses Dublin Core bird species. The study team is composed
elements for a high-level of an ecologist, hydrologist, civil engineer,
with technical interoperability issues
of less specific relevance to and environmental protection specialist.
description of the DDI
metadata. All of the published parts Remote sensing data for the last 20
document itself. years provides a trend analysis of the
are available from ISO as ISO/IEC
21000-[part#]. decrease in wetlands, the bird’s habitat.
Extensions and These datasets have FGDC metadata. The
Metadata for Datasets Profiles biologists on the study team need to
document the results of a field inventory.
Despite the recent
Metadata schemes for datasets Using a biological profile to extend the
are enabling original data in the development of many of FGDC element set, the biologists add the
science and social science fields to these metadata schemes, genus-species name and taxonomic
be shared in a way that was never most have already been hierarchy. The ecologists are concerned
possible before the Internet. One of subject to the changes with collection methods and modeling
brought about by imple- tools. The data related to the changes in
the most well developed element
menting them in real world human population are documented using
sets is the Federal Geographic Data
situations. These modifi- a metadata set developed by the Census
Committee (FGDC) Content Bureau.
Standard for Digital Geospatial cations are of two types:
This study results in a technical report
extensions and profiles.
Metadata (CSDGM), officially which is assigned Dublin Core metadata
known as FGDC-STD-001-1998. An extension is the by the author. When the technical report
Geospatial datasets include addition of elements to an is cataloged into the organization’s
topographic and demographic data, already developed repository, the Dublin Core elements are
scheme to support the used as the basis for automatic generation
GIS (geographic information
description of an infor- of a MARC cataloging record. This record
systems), and computer-aided is enhanced by the cataloger and included
cartography base files. They are mation resource of a
in the library’s online public access
used in a wide variety of areas, particular type or subject catalog.
including soil and land use studies, or to meet the needs of a
biodiversity counts, climatology and particular interest group.
global change tracking, remote Extensions increase the
sensing, and satellite imagery. The number of elements.
The U.S. Department of
FGDC Content Standard is required Profiles are subsets of a scheme Education’s Gateway to Edu-
for use with resources created and that are implemented by a particular cational Materials (GEM) project
funded by the U.S. Government and interest group. Profiles can has based their own metadata
is also being used by many state constrain the number of elements scheme on the Dublin Core. The
governments. that will be used, refine element GEM profile limits the Dublin Core
An international standard, ISO definitions to describe the specific elements that can be used (for
19115, Geographic Information— types of resources more accurately, example, Contributor is not allowed)
metadata was issued in 2003. A and specify values that an element and makes some elements
technical amendment that will allow can take. mandatory. GEM also defines ad-
datasets to be both ISO and FGDC In practice, many applications ditional elements such as Audience,
compliant is underway along with an use both extensions and profiles of Grade, Quality, and Standards,
implementation model that can be base metadata schemes. For extending the base Dublin Core set
used in conjunction with an XML example, the National Biological for educational use.
schema. Information Infrastructure (NBII)
A metadata scheme becoming has developed a Biological Data
well established in the social and Profile of the FGDC Content
behavioral sciences is the Data Standard for use with biological

Understanding Metadata Page 9

Creating Metadata being used. The template will making it difficult to locate relevant
then generate a formatted set of information.
Who creates metadata? The
the element attributes and their The Framework of Guidance for
answer to this varies by discipline,
corresponding values. Building Good Digital Collections,
the resource being described, the
tools available, and the expected • Mark-up tools will structure the available on the NISO website,
outcome, but it is almost always a metadata attributes and values articulates six principles applying to
cooperative effort. into the specified schema good metadata:
Much basic structural and language. Most of these tools • Good metadata should be
administrative metadata is supplied generate XML or SGML appropriate to the materials in
by the technical staff who initially Document Type Definitions the collection, users of the
digitize or otherwise create the (DTD). Some templates include collection, and intended, current
digital object, or is generated such a mark-up as part of their and likely use of the digital
through an automated process. For final translation of the metadata. object.
descriptive metadata, it is best in
• Extraction tools will • Good metadata supports inter-
some situations if the originator of
automatically create metadata operability.
the resource provides the
from an analysis of the digital
information. This is particularly true • Good metadata uses standard
resource. These tools are
in the documentation of scientific controlled vocabularies to reflect
generally limited to textual
datasets where the originator has the what, where, when and who
resources. The quality of the
significant understanding of the of the content.
metadata extracted can vary
rationale for the dataset and the
uses to which it could be put, and
significantly based on the tool’s • Good metadata includes a clear
algorithms as well as the content statement on the conditions and
for which there is little if any textual
and structure of the source text. terms of use for the digital object.
information from which an indexer
These tools should be con-
could work.
sidered as an aid to creating • Good metadata records are
However, many projects have metadata. The resulting objects themselves and
found that it is more efficient to have metadata should always be therefore should have the
indexers or other information manually reviewed and edited. qualities of archivability,
professionals create the descriptive persistence, unique ident-
metadata, because the authors or • Conversion tools will translate ification, etc. Good metadata
creators of the data do not have the one metadata format to another. should be authoritative and
time or the skills. In other cases, a The similarity of elements in the verifiable.
combination of researcher and source and target formats will
information professional is used. affect how much additional • Good metadata supports the
The researcher may create a editing and manual input of long-term management of
skeleton, completing the elements metadata may be required. objects in collections.
that can be supplied most readily. There are a number of ongoing
Metadata tools are generally
Then results may be supplemented efforts for dealing with the metadata
developed to support specific
or reviewed by the information quality challenge:
metadata schemas or element sets.
specialist for consistency and
The websites for the particular • Metadata creation tools are
compliance with the schema syntax
schema will frequently have links to being improved with such
and local guidelines.
relevant toolsets. features as templates, pick lists
Creation Tools that limit the selection in a
Metadata Quality Control particular field, and improved
Many metadata project
The creation of metadata validation rules.
initiatives have developed tools and
automatically or by information
made them available to others, • Software interoperability pro-
originators who are not familiar with
sometimes for free. A growing grams that can automate the
cataloging, indexing, or vocabulary
number of commercial software “crosswalk” between different
control can create quality problems.
tools are also becoming available. schemas are continuously being
Mandatory elements may be
Creation tools fall into several developed and refined.
missing or used incorrectly. Schema
categories:
syntax may have errors that prevent • Content originators are being
• Templates allow a user to enter the metadata from being processed formally trained in understanding
the metadata values into pre-set correctly. Metadata content ter- metadata and controlled
fields that match the element set minology may be inconsistent, vocabulary concepts and in the

Page 10 Understanding Metadata

 use of metadata-related software Interoperability and descriptions, created at different
tools. times for different purposes, can
Exchange of Metadata also be linked to each other. RDF is
• Existing controlled vocabularies generally expressed in XML.
that may have initially been Some people ask: Do we need
designed for a specific use or a so many metadata standards? With Metadata Crosswalks
narrow audience are getting all the metadata standards,
initiatives, extensions, and profiles, The interoperability and ex-
broader use and awareness. For
how can interoperability be change of metadata is further
example, the Content Types and
ensured? facilitated by metadata crosswalks.
Subtypes originally defined for
It is important to remember that A crosswalk is a mapping of the
MIME email exchange are
different schemes serve distinct elements, semantics, and syntax
commonly used as the controlled
needs and audiences. Comple- from one metadata scheme to those
list for the Dublin Core Format
mentary schemes can be used to of another.
element.
describe the same resource for A crosswalk allows metadata
• Communities of users are multiple purposes and to serve a created by one community to be
developing and refining number of user groups. For ex- used by another group that employs
audience-specific metadata ample, a technical report could have a different metadata standard. The
schemas, application profiles, a MARC metadata set in a library’s degree to which these crosswalks
controlled vocabularies, and online catalog, an FGDC are successful at the individual
user guidelines. The MODS User description as part of the National record level depends on the
Guidelines are a good example Spatial Data Infrastructure similarity of the two schemes, the
of the latter. Clearinghouse granularity of the elements in the
Mechanism, and an target scheme compared to that of
A Dublin Core description the source, and the compatibility of
embedded set of
represented in RDF Dublin Core ele- the content rules used to fill the
<?xml version=”1.0"?> ments. elements of each scheme.
<!DOCTYPE rdf:RDF SYSTEM “http://purl.org/ The Resource Crosswalks are important for
dc/schemas/dcmes-xml-20000714.dtd”> virtual collections where resources
Description
<rdf:RDF xmlns:rdf=”http://www.w3.org/ are drawn from a variety of sources
Framework (RDF),
1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-
developed by the and are expected to act as a whole,
ns#”xmlns:dc=”http://purl.org/dc/elements/
1.1/”> World Wide Web perhaps with a single search engine
Consortium (W3C), applied. While these crosswalks are
<rdf:Description about=”http://
www.niso.org/standards/resources/ is a data model for key, they are also labor intensive to
Metadata_Demystified.pdf”> the description of develop and maintain. The mapping
<dc:title>Metadata Demystified</ resources on the of schemes with fewer elements
dc:title> Web that provides a (less granularity) to those with more
<dc:creator>Brand, Amy</dc:creator> mechanism for elements (more granularity) is
<dc:creator>Daly, Frank</dc:creator> integrating multiple problematic.
<dc:creator>Meyers, Barbara</ metadata schemes. Table 1 on page 12 shows a
dc:creator> In RDF a name- crosswalk between Dublin Core,
<dc:subject>metadata</dc:subject> space is defined by MARC 21, and VRA Core for
<dc:description>Presents an overview a URL pointing to a selected elements. In this case,
of metadata conventions in publish- Web resource that there is no attempt to map at the
ing.</dc:description> describes the content level.
<dc:publisher>NISO Press</ metadata scheme
dc:publisher> that is used in the Metadata Registries
<dc:publisher>The Sheridan Press</ description. Multiple Registries are an important tool
dc:publisher> namespaces can for managing metadata. Metadata
<dc:date>2003-07</dc:date> be defined, allowing registries can provide information
<dc:format>application/pdf</ elements from on the definition, origin, source, and
dc.format> different schemes location of data. Registration can
</rdf:Description> to be combined in a apply at many levels, including
</rdf:RDF> single resource schemes, usage profiles, metadata
description. Multiple elements, and code lists for element
values. The metadata registry
provides an integrating resource for

Understanding Metadata Page 11

 Table 1. Example of Metadata Crosswalk Mapping

Dublin Core EAD MARC 21

Title Element Title <titleproper> 245 00$a (Title Statement/Title proper)
700 1#$a (Added Entry--Personal Name)
(with $e=author)
Author Element Creator <author>
720$a (Added Entry–Uncontrolled
Name/Name) (with $e=author)
Date Created 260 ##$c (Date of publication, distribution,
Date.Created <unitdate>
Element etc.)

legacy data, acts as a lookup tool interoperability between systems of National Center for Super-
for designers of new databases, digital image files. The metadata computing Applications. In 2001, it
and documents each data element. elements defined in the standard became an official ANSI/NISO
Registries can also document cover basic image parameters such standard (Z39.85) and in 2003
multiple schemes or element sets, as compression and color profile, Dublin Core was issued as an
particularly within a specific field of information about the equipment international standard (ISO 15836).
interest. A good example is the U.S. and settings use to create the The World Wide Web
Environmental Protection Agency’s image, and performance assess- Consortium’s (W3C) metadata
Environmental Data Registry that ment data such as sampling activity has been incorporated into
provides information about frequency and color maps. the Semantic Web, their initiative to
thousands of data elements used Metadata work is ongoing “provide a common framework that
in current and legacy EPA across a number of standards allows data to be shared and reused
databases. development organizations. In the across application, enterprise, and
Standards relevant to metadata International Organization for community boundaries.” The RDF
registries include ISO/IEC 11179, Standardization (ISO), a subcom- framework is one of the key
Specification and Standardization of mittee of Technical Committee (TC) enabling standards. The Semantic
Data Elements, and ANSI X3.285, 46 (Information and documen- Web efforts are directed to
Metamodel for the Management of tation), is addressing metadata standards that increase the
Shareable Data. development for bibliographic interoperability of metadata, rather
applications. ISO TC 211 (Geo- than specific metadata schemas.
Future Directions graphic information / Geomatics) is The World Wide Web has
developing metadata standards for created a revolution in the
Most early metadata standards applications in geographic accessibility of information. The
have focused on the descriptive information systems. The Data development and application of
elements needed for discovery, management and interchange metadata represents a major
identification, and retrieval. As subcommittee of ISO-IEC JTC1 improvement in the way information
metadata initiatives developed, (Information technology) is can be discovered and used. New
administrative metadata, especially developing standards for the technologies, standards, and best
in the rights and preservation areas specification and management of practices are continually advancing
was further emphasized. Technical metadata and has recently issued the applications for metadata. The
metadata is one area that still does a technical report on Procedures for resources in the following section
not get much attention in metadata achieving metadata registry content will give you a head start in tracking
schemas. The effective exchange consistency (ISO/IEC 20943). developments and contain links to
and use of the digital objects
Many organizations that more information on the projects
described by the metadata often
developed metadata specifications discussed throughout this
requires knowledge of specific
outside the formal standards document.
technical aspects of the objects
community are seeking to have their
beyond its filename and type.
specifications turned into
Newer standards are beginning to
international standards. The Dublin
address this need. The NISO/AIIM
Core is an example of this
standard, Z39.87, Data Dictionary—
approach. It was originally de-
Technical Metadata for Digital Still
veloped in 1995 at a workshop
Images, focuses solely on the
sponsored by OCLC and the
technical data needed to facilitate

Page 12 Understanding Metadata

 More Information on Metadata

General Resources Metadata Information Working Group on Preservation

Clearinghouse Interactive Metadata, January 31, 2001
Digital Libraries: Metadata (MICI) www.oclc.org/research/projects/
Resources (IFLA) http://www.metadata pmwg/presmeta_wp.pdf
http://www.ifla.org/II/ information.org
metadata.htm Schemes, Initiatives,
Metadata Portals and Multi-
A Framework of Guidance for and Related Sites
standard Projects
Building Good Digital by Candy Schwartz Application profiles: mixing and
Collections http://web.simmons.edu/ matching metadata schemas
http://www.niso.org/framework/ ~schwartz/meta.html Rachel Heery and Manjula Patel,
forumframework.html Ariadne, Issue 25, September
Metadata Primer – A “How To” 2000.
Introduction to Metadata: Guide on Metadata
Pathways to Digital http://www.ariadne.ac.uk/issue25/
Implementation [for digital spatial app-profiles/intro.html
Information data]
by Martha Baca by David Hart and Hugh Phillips The Cedars Project (CURL
http://www.getty.edu/research/ http://www.lic.wisc.edu/metadata/ exemplars in digital archives)
conducting_research/standards/ metaprim.htm http://www.leeds.ac.uk/cedars/
intrometadata/index.html metadata.html
Metadata Principles and
Metadata: Cataloging by Any Practicalities CDWA (Categories for the
Other Name Duval, Erik, Wayne Hodgins, Description of Works of Art)
by Jessica Milstead and Susan Stuart Sutton, and Stuart L. http://www.getty.edu/research/
Feldman Weibel conducting_research/standards/
ONLINE, January 1999 D-Lib Magazine 8(4) (April 2002) cdwa/
http://www.onlinemag.net/ http://www.dlib.org/dlib/april02/
OL1999/milstead1.html weibel/04weibel.html DDI (Data Documentation
Initiative)
Metadata and Its Application Metadata Resources (UKOLN) http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/DDI/
by Brad Eden http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/metadata/
Library Technology Reports resources DOI (Digital Object Identifier)
(September-October 2002) http://www.doi.org/
Metadata Standards
Metadata Demystified: A Guide http://www.chin.gc.ca/English/ Dublin Core Metadata Initiative
for Publishers Standards/metadata_intro.html (DCMI)
by Amy Brand, Frank Daly, http://dublincore.org
Barbara Meyers Metadata Standards,
NISO Press & The Sheridan Crosswalks, and Standards EAD (Encoded Archival
Press, 2003, Organizations Description)
ISBN 1-880125-49-9 http://staff.library.mun.ca/staff/ http://www.loc.gov/ead/
http://www.niso.org/standards/ toolbox/standards.htm
resources/ Environmental Data Registry
Metadata_Demystified.pdf Metadata.net – Projects, Tools & (EPA)
Services, and Schema Registry http://www.epa.gov/edr/
Metadata Fundamentals for All (Australia)
Librarians FGDC Content Standard for
http://metadata.net/
by Priscilla Caplan Digital Geospatial Metadata
ALA, 2003, ISBN: 0-8389-0847-0 Preservation Metadata for (CSDGM)
Digital Objects: A Review of the http://www.fgdc.gov/metadata/
State of the Art
Gateway to Educational
A White Paper by the OCLC/RLG
Materials (GEM)
http://www.geminfo.org/

Understanding Metadata Page 13

IFLA Functional Requirements OAIS (Open Archival Crosswalks and Lists of
for Bibliographic Records Information System) Crosswalks
http://www.ifla.org/VII/s13/frbr/ http://www.ccsds.org/documents/
frbr.htm 650x0b1.pdf All about Crosswalks
http://www.oclc.org/research/
IMS Global Learning ONIX (Online Information projects/mswitch/
Consortium Exchange) 1_crosswalks.htm
http://www.imsglobal.org http://www.editeur.org/onix.html
Dublin Core / MARC / GILS
<indecs> interoperability of Open GIS Consortium Crosswalk
data in ecommerce systems http://www.opengis.org/ http://www.loc.gov/marc/
http://www.indecs.org/ dccross.html
PADI (Preserving Access to
LOM (Learning Object Digital Information) FGDC to MARC
Metadata) http://www.nla.gov.au/padi/topics/ http://www.alexandria.ucsb.edu/
http://ltsc.ieee.org/wg12/ 32.html public-documents/metadata/
fgdc2marc.html
MARC 21 (Machine-Readable PREMIS (PREservation
Cataloging) Metadata: Implementation Issues in Crosswalking Content
http://www.loc.gov/marc Strategies) Metadata Standards
http://www.oclc.org/research/ by Margaret St. Pierre and William
MetaWeb Project projects/pmwg P. LaPlant, Jr.
http://www.dstc.edu.au/Research/ http://www.niso.org/press/
Projects/metaweb/ PURL (Persistent Uniform whitepapers/crsswalk.html
Resource Locator)
METS (Metadata Encoding and http://purl.org MARC 21 to Dublin Core
Transmission Standard) http://www.loc.gov/marc/
http://www.loc.gov/standards/ RDF (Resource Description marc2dc.html
mets/ Framework)
http://www.w3.org/RDF/ Metadata: Mapping between
MIX (Metadata for Images in Metadata Formats (UKOLN)
XML Schema) SCHEMAS: Forum for Metadata http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/metadata/
http://www.loc.gov/standards/mix/ Schema Implementors interoperability/
(UKOLN)
MODS (Metadata Object http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/metadata/ Metadata Mappings
Description Schema) schemas/ (Crosswalks)
http://www.loc.gov/standards/ http://libraries.mit.edu/guides/
mods/ TEI (Text Encoding Initiative) subjects/metadata/mappings.html
http://www.tei-c.org/
MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Metadata Standards Crosswalk
Group) VRA (Visual Resources (Getty)
http://www.chiariglione.org/mpeg/ Association) Core Categories http://www.getty.edu/research/
http://www.vraweb.org/ conducting_research/standards/
NBII (National Biological vracore3.htm intrometadata/3_crosswalks/
Information Infrastructure)
crosswalk1.html
http://www.nbii.gov/ XML (Extensible Markup
Language) Metadata Standards Crosswalks
Nordic Metadata Projects http://www.w3.org/XML/ (Canadian Heritage Information
http://www.lib.helsinki.fi/meta/
Network)
Z39.50
NSDI (National Spatial Data http://www.chin.gc.ca/English/
http://www.loc.gov/z3950/agency/
Infrastructure) Standards/
http://www.fgdc.gov/nsdi/ ZING (Z39.50 Next Generation) metadata_crosswalks.html
http://www.loc.gov/z3950/agency/
OAI (Open Archives Initiative) zing/zing-home.html
http://www.openarchives.org/

Page 14 Understanding Metadata

Metadata Registries & NBII Metadata Clearinghouse FGDC Metadata Tools
Clearinghouses http://metadata.nbii.gov/ http://www.nbii.gov/datainfo/
metadata/tools/
DCMI Registry Working Group The SCHEMAS Registry
http://dublincore.org/groups/ http://www.schemas-forum.org/ Metadata Software Tools
registry/ registry/ http://ukoln.bath.ac.uk/metadata/
software-tools/
DESIRE Metadata Registry Tools for Metadata
http://desire.ukoln.ac.uk/registry/ OAI-Specific Tools
Creation
http://www.openarchives.org/tools/
Environmental Data Registry DDI Tools tools.html
http://www.epa.gov/edr/ http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/DDI/
users/tools.html#a01 RDF Editors and Tools
FGDC Clearinghouse Registry http://www.ilrt.bris.ac.uk/
http://registry.gsdi.org/ Dublin Core tools discovery/rdf/resources/#sec-tools
http://dublincore.org/tools/
MICI (Metadata Information TEI Software
Clearinghouse Interactive) http://www.tei-c.org/Software/
http:// index.html
www.metadatainformation.org/

Glossary
AACR2 (Anglo-American DC (Dublin Core) – a general extension – an element that is not
Cataloging Rules) – A standard set metadata element set for describing officially part of a metadata scheme,
of rules for cataloging library all types of resources. which is defined for use with that
materials. The “2” refers to the scheme for a particular application.
DDI (Data Documentation
second edition. Initiative) - a specification for FGDC (Federal Geographic Data
administrative metadata – describing social science datasets. Committee) – a U.S. Federal
metadata related to the use, government interagency committee
descriptive metadata – metadata
management, and encoding that describes a work for purposes responsible for developing the
processes of digital objects over a of discovery and identification, such National Spatial Data Infrastructure.
period of time. Includes the subsets as creator, title, and subject.
of technical metadata, rights GEM (Gateway to Educational
management metadata, and DLF (Digital Library Federation) Materials) – a U.S. Department of
preservation metadata. – a membership organization Education initiative that has defined
dedicated to making digital an extension to the Dublin Core
ANSI (American National information widely accessible. element set to accommodate
Standards Institute) – administers educational resources.
and coordinates the U.S. voluntary DOI (Digital Object Identifier) – a
unique identifier assigned to GIS (Geographic Information
standardization and conformity System) – a computer system for
electronic objects of intellectual
assessment system. capturing, managing, and
property which can be resolved to
CDWA (Categories for the the object’s location on the Internet. displaying data related to positions
Descriptions of Works of Art) – a DTD (Document Type Definition) on the Earth’s surface.
metadata element set for describing – a formal description in SGML or
artworks. HTML (Hypertext Mark-up
XML syntax of the structure Language) – a set of tags and rules
crosswalk – a mapping of the (elements, attributes, and entities) derived from SGML used to create
elements, semantics, and syntax to be used for describing the hypertext documents for the World
from one metadata scheme to specified document type. Wide Web. Officially, a W3C
another. EAD (Encoded Archival Recommendation.
CSDGM (Content Standard for Description) – a metadata scheme <indecs> (Interoperability of Data
Digital Geospatial Metadata) – a for collection finding aids. in ECommerce Systems) – a
metadata standard developed by element set – information framework for metadata to support
the FGDC. Officially known as segments of the metadata record, commerce in intellectual property.
FGDC-STD-001. often called semantics or content. interoperability – the ability of
dataset – a collection of computer- encoding rules – the syntax or multiple systems, using different
readable data records. prescribed order for the elements hardware and software platforms,
contained in the metadata data structures, and interfaces, to
description. exchange and share data.

Understanding Metadata Page 15

Glossary
ISO (International Organization namespace – in RDF, a way to tie SGML (Standard Generalized
for Standardization) – the primary a specific use of a metadata Markup Language) – a language
international standards develop- element to the scheme where the used to mark-up electronic
ment organization. intended definition is to be found. documents with tags that define the
IEC (International Electro- NISO (National Information relationship between the content
technical Commission) – an Standards Organization) – a and the structure. Officially,
standards development organ- international standard ISO 8879,
international standards develop-
Information processing—Text and
ment organization for all electrical, ization, accredited by the American
office systems—Standard Gen-
electronic and related technologies. National Standards Institute, that eralized Markup Language (SGML).
Co-sponsors with ISO the Joint develops library and information-
Technical Committee 1 on Infor- related standards. structural metadata – metadata
that indicates how compound
mation Technology. ONIX (Online Information objects are structured, provided to
LOM (Learning Object Metadata) Exchange) – a metadata scheme support use of the objects.
– a metadata scheme for for book bibliographic, trade, and
promotional data. syntax – rules for how metadata
technology-supported learning elements and their content are
resources. preservation metadata – a form of encoded.
MARC 21 (MAchine Readable administrative metadata dealing
with the provenance of a resource technical metadata – a form of
Cataloging) -- a formatting, record
structure, and encoding standard and its archival management. administrative metadata dealing
for electronic bibliographic with the creation or storage
profile – a subset of a scheme encoding processes or formats of
cataloging records developed by defined and used by a particular
the Library of Congress. The “21” the resource.
interest group to customize the
refers to the version of MARC scheme for its purposes. TEI (Text Encoding Initiative) – a
issued in 1998 that integrated the metadata scheme for electronic text
U.S. and Canadian versions of PURL (Persistent URL) – a naming
MARC. and resolution system developed by URL (Uniform Resource Locator)
OCLC utilizing an intermediate – A unique address for identifying
MARCXML – a metadata scheme redirection service to locate a and locating a resource on the
for working with MARC data in a resource’s URL. Internet.
XML environment
qualifier – an optional sub-element VRA (Visual Resources
metadata – structured information to a Dublin Core element that is Association ) Core – a metadata
that describes, explains, locates, used to further refine the element scheme for describing a visual work
and otherwise makes it easier to or support a specific encoding and its representations
retrieve and use an information scheme.
W3C (World Wide Web
resource. RDF (Resource Description Consortium) – an international
metadata harvesting – a technique Framework) – a language for consortium that develops
for extracting metadata from representing metadata about Web consensus protocols and
individual repositories and resources so it can be exchanged specifications to ensure the
collecting it in a central catalog between applications without loss interoperability of the World Wide
of meaning. Officially, a suite of Web.
METS (Metadata Encoding and W3C specifications.
Transmission Standard) – a XML (Extensible Mark-up
metadata scheme for complex registry – a formal system for the Language) – an application profile
digital library objects. documentation of the element sets, of SGML designed for use in Web
descriptions, semantics, and syntax applications. Officially, a W3C
MODS (Metadata Object of one or more metadata schemes. Recommendation.
Description Schema) – a
metadata scheme for rich rights management metadata – a Z39.50 – a NISO and ISO standard
description of electronic resources. form of administrative metadata protocol for cross-system search
dealing with the intellectual property and retrieval. Officially, international
MPEG (Moving Pictures Experts rights of a resource. standard, ISO 23950, Information
Group) – Standards Committee 29, Retrieval (Z39.50): Application
Working Group 11 of ISO/IEC JTC1, scheme (schema)– a metadata Service Definition and Protocol
which develops standards for digital element set and rules for using it. Specification, and ANSI/NISO
audio and video. Also refers to a semantics – the names and standard Z39.50.
suite of standards developed by the meanings of metadata elements.
group.

Page 16 Understanding Metadata

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