Metadata Formats in the Information Field

 

Definition

• The general definition is that "metadata is data about data."
• Specifically, metadata is information that describes, organizes, and/or facilititates the searching of information stored electronically.
• Metadata is absolutely vital to finding information, so all information stored in databases include metadata about that information.
  • Examples:
    • Identification of words in a record or document as being part of a title, author name, subject, publisher.
    • Numerical information about a document such as date, number of words, issue and page number of an article.

Major Information Field Metadata Formats

• There are numerous forms of "metadata," including many in the information field.
• Example forms useful to libraries include:
  • MARC (Machine-Readable Coding)
    • The basic data organization and description scheme for library databases.
  • Metadata Object Description Schema (MODS)
    • A set of bibliographic elements for the description of many kinds of information , particularly library data.
    • Compatible with and able to carry MARC data.
    • XML-based (see below).
  • Dublin Core
  • Functional Requirements of Bibliographic Records (FRBR)
    • Developed by IFLA, supported by LOC
  • HTML (Hypertext Markup Language)
  • XML (Extensible Markup Language)
    • A structure for indicating the nature of any kind of data element in a record or document.
  • METS (Metadata Encoding and Transmission Standard)
    • A format that can encapsulate all of the metadata for a digital object, such as an ejournal.
    • http://www.loc.gov/standards/mets/
  • MODS
    • X

To: LT65 INDEX	To: GREENSHEET	To:	To: TOP OF PAGE:
So many urls. So little time. TM
(c) 1996-2003 - optimized for Netscape & 800x600 display