introduction what is metadata types of metadata examples of metadata usage metadata for everyone!...

IntroductionWhat is metadataTypes of metadataExamples of metadata usageMetadata for everyone!Questions and wrap-up

Metadata 101

Robin Fay, Univ. of Georgia, Metadata 101, robinfay.net

Metadata 101While programming languages are

the engines which run the web and the software we use, metadata is akin to street signs or maps – communicating to people, software, and other computer languages.

This communication can be information about the content (descriptive), about its technical specifications or creation.

Metadata is truly everywhere – often hidden behind the tools and online products we use.



APIs are programming interfaces which facilitate communication

APIs are programming interfaces which facilitate communication

MARC can be exported as XML and Non MARC metadata is often written in XML, a flexible programming language.

MARC can be exported as XML and Non MARC metadata is often written in XML, a flexible programming language.

Metadata 101Types of metadata:

DescriptiveStructuralAdministrative

Many forms of metadata include elements of each of these; however it is dependent upon the schema.

A schema is a set of rules covering the elements and requirements for coding. Examples of schemas include Dublin Core, TEI, EAD, and others.


Metadata 101

Karen Coyle 2004,http://www.kcoyle.net/meta_purpose.html

METS is a standard which includes administrative, descriptive & structural metadata.

METS is a standard which includes administrative, descriptive & structural metadata.


Metadata 101

Descriptive metadata describes a resource for purposes such as discovery and identification.

It can include elements such as title, abstract, author, and keywords. Keywords can include tags (generally uncontrolled vocabulary) and/or controlled vocabulary such as LC subject headings. Keywords is probably one of the most used terms on the web and its meaning is context based.


Metadata 101Examples of descriptive metadata include

MARC bibliographic records; Tags, titles, and notes in flickr , del.ici.ous, and other

social networking sites; metadata embedded in the code of websites;and other tagging projects such as steve.museum,

OCLC worldcat.org, LibraryThing, some digital library projects;

… really any website where a user (or authorized user, such as a cataloger or member participant) can create or edit description, keywords/tags, title, creator information and more.

Let’s look at just a few of these focusing on the descriptive metadata…


Metadata 101A few examples:

A MARC bib record from the OPAC view of a GIL catalog.

A MARC bib record from the OPAC view of a GIL catalog.


Metadata 101The metadata generated by catalogers

within a MARC bibliographic record is considered descriptive metadata. It provides information about the item, from its title and creator to its format to appropriate LCSH or Sears subject headings (controlled vocabulary keywords) assigned by the cataloger.

How that metadata is interpreted is dependent upon the software or programming language.


Metadata 101Many digital projects from databases to websites

allow (and even require) the cataloger to create or edit administrative or structural metadata. Archivists’ Toolkit is one software used by catalogers which creates all types of metadata.

Metadata from these databases can often be cross-walked. An example of cross-walking is creating a MARC record from a non-MARC format and then importing the derived record into a MARC based library catalog, such as GIL.


Metadata 101Let's look at one simple example of cross-

walkingFor the Electronic Theses & Dissertations

at UGA, an appropriately coded metadata record from a MySQL database can be translated into a MARC record and loaded into a Voyager catalog, with the end result being an acceptable MARC bibliographic record.


Note: The MARC designated fields.

Cataloger’s workform interface to the MySQL db.

Note: The MARC designated fields.

Cataloger’s workform interface to the MySQL db.

Note: The indicators and field tags are populated.

Note: The indicators and field tags are populated.

Metadata 101


The record imported into GIL.

The record imported into GIL.

Metadata 101Although catalogers create, edit and

use metadata everyday, metadata goes far beyond the library catalog or even the library website.

Metadata generation and editing beyond the library catalog is a common place activity for many internet users these days, including you! If you are not creating metadata on the Internet, you are using it to search google and other search engines.


Metadata 101

Metadata for a website is either created by the user when building the website or hand-coded into the HTML. Some search engines use these keywords to varying degrees.

Metadata for a website is either created by the user when building the website or hand-coded into the HTML. Some search engines use these keywords to varying degrees.Robin Fay, Univ. of Georgia, Metadata 101, robinfay.net

Web designers also create metadata to describe the website and its content. LC Subject headings can be coded into the meta tags. Many websites now carry rights metadata (administrative).

Web designers also create metadata to describe the website and its content. LC Subject headings can be coded into the meta tags. Many websites now carry rights metadata (administrative).

Metadata 101

A steve museum record. Steve.museum is open to art educators and others; membership is required to tag. This is user generated metadata.

A steve museum record. Steve.museum is open to art educators and others; membership is required to tag. This is user generated metadata.



Worldcat.org offers both user contributed metadata (tags) and authority contributed controlled metadata (subject headings, authorized forms of names & entities, etc.)

Worldcat.org offers both user contributed metadata (tags) and authority contributed controlled metadata (subject headings, authorized forms of names & entities, etc.)

Library thing – user generated cataloging

Library thing – user generated cataloging


Metadata 101Microsoft has been adding metadata to the its documents for years; often based upon which user created the document. Newer versions allow this information to be changed more easily. PDF creators also allow the creation and editing of metadata.

Microsoft has been adding metadata to the its documents for years; often based upon which user created the document. Newer versions allow this information to be changed more easily. PDF creators also allow the creation and editing of metadata.Robin Fay, Univ. of Georgia, Metadata 101, robinfay.net

Metadata 101

Structural metadata defines the relationship between whole and parts.

Structural metadata can also be used for navigational purposes. Structural metadata would include links to related files.


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metadatametadata

Administrative Administrative & &

StructuralStructural


Metadata 101Administrative metadata 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.

Subsets of administrative metadata exist but two commons ones are Rights management metadata, which deals

with intellectual property rights, and preservation metadata, which contains

information needed to archive and preserve a resource.


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metadatametadata

AdministratiAdministrativeve

metadata metadata

Metadata 101Many different tools are

available for users to create metadata – help for

flickr users


Metadata 101Note: The Note: The associatioassociatio

n of n of tagging tagging

as as metadatametadata


DC Metadata generator -- help for web

editors & designers


Other fields in thegenerator include Date of coverage,copyright & format.

Metadata 101We can rate, tag -- add keywords (even

use controlled vocabulary in some cases), assign or flag for appropriate audience level, define genre, and more.

User generated metadata is generally created through an interface on a website and primarily descriptive; however, many sites are beginning to allow and encourage rights statements (administrative) as well as other elements of administrative and structural metadata.


Metadata 101Concerns and thoughts

Much of the current discussion about metadata (tagging/keywords, controlled headings vs. non-controlled headings, keywords, OCLC Community Expert Experiment) centers upon the potential differences in quality of user generated metadata.

As with any user group, there are varying levels of expertise and understanding of the subject.

Metadata can be good or bad.Keywords have been terribly misused in the SEO

(Search Engine Optimization) community – leading not only to false results when searching but also spam and phishing attempts


Metadata 101Many collaborative websites (social

networking) such as Wikipedia rely on the collective expertise of the group -- the “true” or accurate information will rise to the top.

Untrue or unsubstantied information will either sink to the bottom (fewer hits, bad reviews, marked for review, etc.) or will be revised by more expert opinions. For the most part, this works fairly well; however, there are drawbacks and quality control is an ongoing issue.


Metadata 101Taking the human element out (beyond the

programmers who wrote the scripts for harvesting) Machine derived metadata offers the opportunity to create large chunks of metadata with minimal human effort

However, machine derived metadata may not be able to distinguish subtleties perceivable to the human eye and mind – at least, until AI is truly viable

Duplicates and erroneous information may occur


Metadata 101There are many issues to ponder related to

topic of metadata, including the impact of user generated metadata.

Food for thought: David Weinberger of Everything is Miscellaneous writes in response to Thomas Mann’s response to Karen Calhoun “...there is a crucial distinction that is being swept under the rug: the difference between quick information seeking and scholarship.”


Metadata 101Metadata to the world !All of the metadata we (the world) creates is

mined in some form or another. Search engines, document processing software, library catalogs, websites, digital portals, even our desktop computer’s indexing is mining our information

The Web provides endless possibilities to share resources and digital objects

Library catalogs mirror general practices on the web; as more sites not only allow users to create metadata, sites are beginning to create user created resources, too.


Metadata 101: Wrap-upTypes of metadata:

DescriptiveStructuralAdministrative

Many forms of metadata include elements of each of these; however it is dependent upon the schema.

A schema is a set of rules covering the elements and requirements for coding. DC (Dublin Core) is one example of a metadata schema.


Metadata 101All presentation materials will be available at

robinfay.netLinks @

http://delicious.com/georgiawebgurl/metadata_presentation


introduction what is metadata types of metadata examples of metadata usage metadata for everyone!...

Documents

marc metadata

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netrobin fay

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programming languages

marc bib record

examples of schemas