1. Anne Etheridge Economic and Social Data Service IASSIST 2006 24 May 2006 METADATA MANAGEMENT THE FORGOTTEN WORLD OF THE BACK OFFICE

2. METADATA MANAGEMENT overlooked section of digital data life cycle records populated by cut and paste frequently updated web pages given to non-web editors back office not a high organisational priority

3. METADATA MANAGEMENT highlight how ESDS strategy has made cataloguing and web page update straightforward

4. WHO ARE THE BACK OFFICE? not users people who make things work create catalogue records maintain authority lists update staff lists organise events update web pages

5. THE FORGOTTEN WORLD web pages catalogue records event organisation Three areas of metadata management:

6. CATALOGUE RECORDS DEPOSIT FORM INPUT PROGRAM CATALOGUE RECORD information from depositor value-added online access

7. CATALOGUE RECORD data creator, data collector, sponsor sampling, weighting, data collection methods abstract geographical coverage temporal coverage references to publications subject keywords variables online documentation lists of related datasets

8. CATALOGUE RECORD

9. DEPOSIT FORMS depositor add information data format e.g. SPSS documentation format abstract title depositor dates of fieldwork time period publications geographic coverage

10. Microsoft Word DEPOSIT FORMS data on floppy disc details copied LEGACYCURRENT download forms Visual basic export DDI XML

11. INPUT PROGRAMS LEGACY add/copy all fields Deposit form Input program General Household Survey, 2004-2005 Office for National Statistics Repeated cross-sectional study 01 April 2004-31 March 2005

12. INPUT PROGRAMS add: keywords, subject category, links and other resources, access codes, notes for internal use DDI XML from deposit forms CURRENT added to underlying database fields flag fields to check

13. INPUT PROGRAMS Advantage to back office no cutting and pasting more accurate records more time to add value to catalogue record

14. database of events training courses news items online booking RSS feed EVENT MANAGEMENT

15. same event on more than one web page need more information than appears on web page EVENT MANAGEMENT – database of events

16. WordHTML print-friendly use template EVENT MANAGEMENT - programme LEGACYCURRENT

17. Advantage to back office always have latest version easy to print out EVENT MANAGEMENT - programme easy to create for new event

18. EVENT MANAGEMENT – booking Word LEGACY sent via email paste into Excel create delegate list create new form for each event

19. EVENT MANAGEMENT – booking CURRENT tick boxes update fields submit from web new booking email dynamic delegate lists

20. checking a few boxes – costs, max numbers, contact, special note for event Advantage to back office EVENT MANAGEMENT – booking no duplication of information simple to add booking form for event delegate lists always up-to-date

21. NEW ESDS WEB SITE designed with back office in mind

22. use of metadata in navigation use of style sheets metadata used in design common include files use of standards NEW ESDS WEB SITE topmenu="data" sidemenu="ordering" submenu="order" subsubmenu="accesshelp"

23. NEW ESDS WEB SITE Advantage to back office web pages easy to update easy flexible design more time to make changes consistent look and feel

24. repetitive If task is: CONCLUSION complicated dull Find a way to make it easier for the back office infrequent repetitive