The Metadata Landscape: Cataloging Cultural Objects, the VRA Core, and Our Visual Collections Margaret N. Webster Knight Visual Resources Facility December 14, 2007

Why the fuss about Metadata? Access: find more stuff Meaning: what is it? distinguish one thing from another Context: where does it fit?, where will it lead? Uses: who can use it and how they use it Preserve: helps save stuff

In the age of Google, why bother? Speed up cataloging Promote consistency of recording and retrieving data Reduce user confusion Facilitate migration fielded data can be recombined mechanically for a variety of outputs and uses Useful in sharing initiatives Improve user access

Many Systems/Many Purposes Content Management Systems –Image Collections –Libraries –Museums DAMS Digital Repositories Course Management Presentation/Discovery tools

A digital object gathers metadata Administrative Technical Preservation Structural Descriptive Use plus user generated metadata!

Descriptive Metadata A Brief Typology  Data structure standards (metadata element sets) VRA Core, CDWA, Dublin Core, MARC  Data value standards (vocabularies/taxonomies) LCSH, LCNAF, TGM, AAT, ULAN  Data content/syntax standards (cataloging rules) CCO, AACR (  RDA), DACS  Data format/technical interchange standards (expressed in machine-readable form) VRA Core XML schema, CDWA-Lite, Dublin Core, DC Qualified XML schema, MARC, MARCXML

Cataloging Cultural Objects: Issues Covered  Managing objects/images vs. describing them  Work Type, Classification, Naming works  Whole/part relationships  Controlled terminology  Contextual materials and relationships  Various audiences and display demands

This simplified diagram illustrates how works may be related to other works, and how works may be related to images, sources, and authorities.

CCO Ten Key Principles: Illustrated Examples

1. Establish logical focus of each work record… 8. Be consistent in establishing relationships…

photograph painting Both are portraits of the same person, but are different work types

Example of 2 image records linked to 1 work record

Example of records for related works

2. Include all of the CCO required elements. 3. Follow the CCO rules. Make & enforce additional local rules to allow effective retrieval, repurposing and the exchange of information.

CCO Recommended elements *

4. Use published controlled vocabularies such as the Getty vocabularies & the Library of Congress Authorities. 5. Create local authorities that are populated with terminology as well as with local terms. Structure as thesauri whenever possible.

Subject field using terms from various authorities

v Class: Architecture v Work Type: memorial v Title: Lincoln Memorial vCreator Display: architect Henry Bacon (American, ) and sculptor Daniel Chester French (American, ) vCreation Date: designed ; constructed vSubject: commemoration, honor, Abraham Lincoln vLocation: Washington, DC vMaterials and Technique: Exterior: Colorado Yule marble; Tripods: Pink Tennessee marble; Interior walls and columns: Indiana limestone; Ceiling: Alabama marble saturated with paraffin for translucency; Floor and wall base: Pink Tennessee marble; Pedestal and platform for statue: Tennessee marble; Statue: White Georgia marble vDescription: Design was influenced by the Greek Parthenon. Built into the design are symbols of Union like the 36 exterior Doric columns representing the 36 states in the Union at the time of Lincoln's death… Links to authorities are recommended Authorities are discussed in detail in Part III of CCO

6. Use established metadata structure standards, such as the VRA Core Categories, CDWA….

7. Understand that cataloging, classification, indexing and display are different, but related things

Classification Display Cataloging

Creation Cluster

9. Be consistent regarding capitalization, punctuation and syntax, but when necessary use standard codes and lists for abbreviations… 10. For English-language information systems and users, use English- Language data values whenever possible.

Metadata on the move: mapping Bibliographic (MARC) VR (VRA Core) Museum (CDWA) 1xx Main Entry 7xx Added Entry AgentMaker 24Xa Title and Title related information Title 340a Physical Medium Material Materials

Metadata Practice  Tools for capturing  Community standards for sharing and reuse  Portable and Preserved  Workflow, when, who  Where to store?  Where and how to display