The metadata challenge for libraries: a view from Europe Michael Day UKOLN: The UK Office for Library and Information Networking, University of Bath

The metadata challenge for libraries: a view from Europe Michael Day Metadiversity - A Call to Action. Responding to the Grand Challenge for Biodiversity Information Management through Metadata, Natural Bridge Inn & Conference Center, Natural Bridge, VA., 9-12 November 1998.

3 Presentation Outline A metadata typology Interoperability MODELS project Dublin Core implementations –Nordic Metadata Project –BIBLINK ROADS and Internet subject services Digital Preservation Cedars

4 A metadata typology Simple Rich Adapted from: Dempsey and Heery (1998).

5 Interoperability (1) A diversity of formats results in interoperability problems Possible solutions: Crosswalks (mapping tables) - useful for format comparisons or producing conversion programs Core formats - Dublin Core Heterogeneous resource discovery

6 Interoperability (2) MODELS project Funded by JISC through eLib A forum for exploring problems of distributed heterogeneous information resources and services Layered approach to cross-domain resource discovery Arts and Humanities Data Service Implementation of layered system using DC and a Z39.50 gateway

7 Interoperability (3) European Dublin Core implementations: Nordic Metadata Project –Dublin Core toolkit BIBLINK: linking publishers and national bibliographic services –EU Telematics for Libraries project –Format conversions DC/SGML - MARC DC-dot –Dublin Core generator

8 Interoperability (4) ROADS and Internet subject services Funded by JISC through eLib Whois++ protocol ROADS cross-searching Centroids for query routing Template registry and cataloguing guidelines Interaction with the Z39.50 protocol

9 Digital preservation (1) A variety of preservation strategies are available - all depend upon the creation, capture and storage of metadata Initiatives include: RLG Working Group on Preservation Issues of Metadata (May 1998) Cedars project - funded by JISC under eLib, managed by CURL PANDORA project - National Library of Australia

10 Digital preservation (2) OAIS model for archival information object classes: Content Information Preservation Description Information –Reference Information –Context Information –Provenance Information –Fixity Information Packaging Information Descriptive Information

11 RDF Resource Description Framework Data model and XML based syntax An implementation of the conceptual Warwick Framework Modular interoperability Useful for aggregating the different metadata types required for managing digital information over time

12 Call to action: Standards: the use of standards is important Interoperability: needs to be a major consideration Integration and aggregation: metadata is a useful tool for a wide range of tasks, resource discovery, rights management, digital preservation, etc.

13 UKOLN UKOLN is funded by the British Library Research and Innovation Centre (BLRIC), the Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC) of the UK Higher Education Funding Councils, as well as by project funding from the JISCs Electronic Libraries (eLib) Programme and the European Union. UKOLN also receives support from the University of Bath, where it is based.