230 likes | 379 Views
Workshop on XML-Based Library Applications 2. XML and Library Metadata. Outline. Metadata. Library metadata. Types of metadata MARC. Limitations. Changes in the information world MARC and XML Value of XML over MARC Opportunities of XML for libraries Major metadata schemas IFLA Report
E N D
Workshop on XML-Based Library Applications2. XML and Library Metadata Hong Kong University of Science & Technology Library
Outline • Metadata. Library metadata. Types of metadata • MARC. Limitations. • Changes in the information world • MARC and XML • Value of XML over MARC • Opportunities of XML for libraries • Major metadata schemas • IFLA Report • Conclusion Hong Kong University of Science & Technology Library
What is Metadata? (1) • Data about data • Information that identifies and describes an information resource • Information that documents its function, its use, its relationship to other resources, and how it should be managed Hong Kong University of Science & Technology Library
What is Metadata? (2) “Structured, encoded data that describe characteristics of information-bearing entities to aid in the identification, discovery, assessment, and management of the described entities.” --ALCTS CC:DA/MARBI task force on metadata, 2000) Hong Kong University of Science & Technology Library
What is Library Metadata? • Examples of library metadata • Bibliographic, item, order, authority records, etc. • Indexes and abstracts • Finding aids • Data about electronic and Web resources Hong Kong University of Science & Technology Library
Types of Metadata (1) • Descriptive metadata • Administrative metadata • Preservation metadata • Technical metadata • Use metadata To find out more: Introduction to Metadata (Getty Research Institute) http://www.getty.edu/research/conducting_research/standards/intrometadata/ Hong Kong University of Science & Technology Library
What is MARC? • “Machine Readable Cataloging” • Developed at LC in 1960s. • A language for marking up bibliographic data for automated processing • Structure based on ISO 2709 standard for exchange of bibliographic data. Hong Kong University of Science & Technology Library
Limitations of MARC • Too complex to be used by non-library information workers without extensive training • Many different MARC formats • Lack of flexibility • Slow in responding to change • Inadequate in describing volatile digital and Web resources • Redundancy Hong Kong University of Science & Technology Library
Information Environment is Changing • Physical resources < electronic resources • Library catalogs < Web resources • Unchanged < dynamically updated • Controlled < uncontrolled by libraries • Multiple interface < Single interface for access XML is a more effective tool! Hong Kong University of Science & Technology Library
MARC and XML Hong Kong University of Science & Technology Library
Value of XML over MARC (1) • Multi-scripts enabled – UTF-8 by default An xml:lang attribute for any element • Open and extensible • Interoperability – platform independent • Better handling of hierarchical bibliographic data • Allows better linking among data • Separation of elements and attributes Hong Kong University of Science & Technology Library
Value of XML over MARC (2) • Presentation and exchange formats are the same, in plain text • Adopted by non-library information providers – data sharing becomes possible • Fast becoming the universal data format for Web resources Hong Kong University of Science & Technology Library
Opportunities of XML for Libraries (1) • Data can be created once and published in different formats • Bibliographic records can be directly viewed by the Web browsers, search engines, and potentially library systems without further conversion Hong Kong University of Science & Technology Library
Opportunities of XML for Libraries (2) • Records can be interchanged between XML and MARC without any data loss • Problems inherited with MARC format become insignificant, incl. related to CJK, romanization and authority control. • Traditional resources can be integrated with rapidly growing repository of digital texts, databases, and metadata records Hong Kong University of Science & Technology Library
Major Metadata Schemas (1) LC MARC XML • Published by LC in June 2002 http://www.loc.gov/marcxml • Convert MARC21 records to XML format and back • Supports all MARC encoded data regardless of format • Can represent metadata for OAI harvesting • An MARC XML example: Carl Sandburg's Arithmetic (single record) Hong Kong University of Science & Technology Library
Major Metadata Schemas (2) Dublin Core • Dublin Core Metadata Initiatives DCMI http://dublincore.org/ • Provides simple resource description for libraries, Web content publishers, etc. • Simple DC XML schema (2002) – 15 elements • Qualified DC XML schema (2003) • Can be mapped to any metadata standard • Guidelines for implementing Dublin Core in XML Hong Kong University of Science & Technology Library
Major Metadata Schemas (3)EAD • Encoded Archival Description http://www.loc.gov/ead/ead.html • Published and maintained by LC • For encoding archival finding aids • Used by digital libraries to create machine-readable finding aids • Widely used by museums, university archives, historical societies: list of sites Hong Kong University of Science & Technology Library
Some Metadata Schemas (4)METS • Metadata Encoding and Transmission Standard http://www.loc.gov/standards/mets/ • A DLF initiative • An XML document format for encoding descriptive, administrative, and structural metadata about objects in a digital library. • Built on MOA2 Project. • Released in 2003. Hong Kong University of Science & Technology Library
METS • For encoding digital objects as a whole • A METS document has 5 elements: • Descriptive • Administrative • File Groups • Structural Maps • Behavior Hong Kong University of Science & Technology Library
METS • MOA2 (The Making of America. Part II) • A sample document with a MOA2 viewer: Patrick Breen Diary • To find out more: http://sunsite.berkeley.edu/MOA2/ Hong Kong University of Science & Technology Library
IFLA Report (1) World-Wide Review of "Guidance on the Structure, Content, and Application of Metadata Records for Digital Resources and Collections“ - Report of the IFLA Working Group on the Use of Metadata Schemas • Crosswalk mapping 8 metadata schemas to MARC 21 • Metadata Core Record Framework – 10 most commonly occurring elements in metadata schemas Hong Kong University of Science & Technology Library
IFLA Report (2) • Selecting a Metadata Schema • Depending on how and where the resources will be accessed and used. • Deciding the amount of details to be captured and represented in the metadata record. • Use one or more standardized metadata schemas. • Use a local schema, or a combination of an existing schema and a local one. Hong Kong University of Science & Technology Library
Will XML Replace MARC? • Unlikely in the near future • Due to massive existing implementations, MARC format will co-exist with XML-based formats for a very long time, with cross-walk possibility Thank you! Hong Kong University of Science & Technology Library