Metadata and Documentation Iain Wallace Performing Arts Data Service

1. Metadata and Documentation Iain Wallace Performing Arts Data Service

2. Information which allows the resource to make sense and gives it context An integral part of any successful digitisation project, not at the end as an add-on Responsibility of the resource creatorShould presuppose no knowledge on the part of future users Metadata & documentation

3. What is Metadata? • Describes, explains, helps to locate, retrieve & manage an information resource • Structured data about an information object • Consistent information adhering to established standards • Can be separate from or embedded in the object it describes

4. Enriches the resource by adding contextual information Extends usefulness of resource by widening access to it Facilitates resource discovery & enhances ability of researchers to make informed decisions during the research process Allows the resource to be managed effectively, increasing its long-term viability Why is Metadata Important?

5. Collection level – a description embracing a number of items Item level – a description confined to an individual item Resource discovery metadata - To facilitate search – primarily related to content Types of metadata

6. Preservation metadata Technical metadata – information related to the technical management of the resource – e.g. file format, file size, associated software, version etc. Administrative metadataAssociated with managing the usage of a resource by answering questions related to e.g. rights associated with it, when it was last updated, who was responsible for it Preservation metadata

7. Impose a consistency in description which allows users to cross-search effectively by promoting interoperability Accuracy and reliability of information retrieval Some standards associated with different types of materials and levels of aggregation TEI (Text) EAD (Finding Aids) VRA Core Categories (Visual materials) Spectrum (Museum objects) RSLP Collection description Standards for catalogue entry e.g. MARC & AACR2 Mapping between standards - crosswalks Metadata Standards

8. Objectives : To define a “minimalist” interoperable metadata schema to describe proliferation of electronic resources To comprise a range of elements broad enough to accommodate many resource types and disciplines To be simple enough to be used by individuals who are not information professionals Schema can be used for broad description within its core 15 elements Qualifiers can refine this description All Dublin Core elements are optional and repeatable They can be displayed in any order General Metadata Standards: Dublin Core

9. 1. Title 2. Creator 3. Subject 4. Description 5. Publisher 6. Contributor 7. Date 8. Type 9. Format 10. Identifier 11. Source 12. Language 13. Relation 14. Coverage 15. Rights Dublin Core Element Set

10. Creator:Donald Cooper Role=Photographer Subject: Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616, Antony and Cleopatra [LC] Description:Vanessa Redgrave as Cleopatra Date: 1973-08-09 Type:Image Format:JPEG Identifier:4150 [catalogue no] Source: negative no 235 Relation: Antony and Cleopatra: Thompson/73-8 IsPartOf Coverage:Bankside Globe Role=Spatial Rights:Donald Cooper Dublin Core Example

11. Not required by DC but recommended For use in the Subject, Coverage elements etc. From authoritative lists Universal Subject Lists such as LC Subject Headings Controlled vocabularies and thesauri for particular subject areas Controlled Vocabularies & Thesauri

12. Art & Architecture Thesaurus (AAT)http://www.getty.edu/research/tools/vocabulary/aat/ National Monuments Record Type (NMR)http://www.rchme.gov.uk/thesaurus/frequentuser.htm Thesaurus of Geographic Names (TGN)http://www.getty.edu/research/tools/vocabulary/tgn/ Humanities & Social Science Electronic Thesaurus (HASSET)http://www.data-archive.ac.uk/search/hassetSearch.asp Specialist Thesauri

13. Date – ISO 8601 – YYYY-MM-DD Names – e.g. Union List of Artists Names (ULAN) http://www.getty.edu/research/tools/vocabulary/ulan/ Multi-purpose Internet Mail Extensions (MIME) Types Image examples = JPEG, GIF, TIFF Video examples = MPEG, Quicktime Model example = VRML Language – ISO 639 Language Codes Controlled Values in other elements

14. To inform ongoing preservation of digital objects For both “born digital” and “digital surrogate” resources Several initiatives developing a framework for Preservation Metadata OCLC/RLG http://www.oclc.org/research/pmwg/pm_framework.pdf CEDARS (Leeds University)http://www.leeds.ac.uk/cedars/ PADI (National Library of Australia)http://www.nla.gov.au/padi/ NEDLIBhttp://www.kb.nl/coop/nedlib/results/D4.2/D4.2.htm Focus on Preservation Metadata

15. Reference Information Unique identifier for the object e.g. ISBN, URN Context Information Clarifies relationship of the object to its environment : why it was created/how it relates to other objects Preservation Description Information

16. Provenance Information Origin, chain of custody, preservation actions and effects Fixity Information Authenticates/validates the object e.g. digital signature Preservation Description Information

17. Store technical information that supports preservation decisions and action Document preservation action taken (e.g. migration or emulation) Record effects of preservation strategies Ensure authenticity of digital resources over time Note information on Collection and Rights Management Preservation Metadata can:

18. Example of preservation metadata

19. Metadata an integral part of the digitisation process – documentation should be an ongoing part of any project Other types of documentation e.g. metadata relating to audience Ensuring that your resource is meaningful and accessible both now and in the future Summary