Last week we discussed the brief history of metadata. This week we will talk about some of the other standards that have evolved over the years. As it became necessary to describe different information about the file, and different systems needed different ways to read that information, additional standards were developed.
Because we like standards, and because metadata can be industry specific, other standards around metadata have evolved. How about this line from a Library of Congress website to help clear up metadata standards…
“MADS is a MARC21-compatible XML format for the type of data carried in records in the MARC Authorities format. Each individual record is contained within <mads></mads>, and groups of MADS records can be contained within a MADS Collection (<madsCollection></madsCollection>). Consistency with MODS was a goal as much as possible.”
(If you don’t believe me… check this out!)
Here are some other “standard” metadata standards and some links if you want to learn more about them.
MARC21 is a standard for managing bibliographic information as described by the Library of Congress. (http://www.loc.gov/marc/)
MODS is essentially an XML schema that is intended to communicate MARC21 information. (http://www.loc.gov/standards/mods/)
METS is a standard for encoding descriptive, administrative, and structural metadata regarding objects within a digital library. (http://www.loc.gov/standards/mets/)
MADS is yet another standard managed by the Library of Congress. It stands for Metadata Authority Description, and is essentially a specific flavor of XML.
(http://www.loc.gov/standards/mads)
Open URL is a type of Uniform Resource Locator (URL) intended to enable Internet users to more easily find a copy of a resource. Though OpenURL can be used with any kind of resource on the Internet, it is most heavily used by libraries to help connect library visitors to subscription content.
Dublin Core was created in 1995. A group of librarians met in Dublin, Ohio, and out of those meetings came a system to describe Web-based information resources quickly and easily. It has fifteen core elements (thus the name Dublin “Core”).
So you can see how metadata continues to evolve and adapt and flex.
Back before the creation of the IPTC standard, it was enough to name a file (remember the name was limited to 8 letters and a three letter extension) and remember which floppy disk it was on. Imagine that today, when it is not unusual for some MerlinOne customers to see over 15,000 new items in a single day (like Amsterdam’s de Telegraaf did during the recent World Cup) combined with the millions of items they have saved over the years.
Posted by David Breslauer