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Chapter 4. Metadata Structures and Semantics

Chapter 4 section titles

4.1 Modeling for Metadata
4.1.1 Entity-Relationship Modeling
4.1.2 Ontological Modeling
4.1.3 Encapsulated and Modularized Approach
4.2 Enumerating Metadata Terms
4.2.1 Communicating about the Functional Requirements
4.2.2 Identifying Desired Elements
4.3 Metadata Vocabulary/Element Set Specification
4.3.1 Basic Components
4.3.2 Presentation
4.3.3 Principles for an Element Set to Follow
4.3.4 Methodologies of Working from an Existing Element Set
4.3.5 Testing the Element Set
4.4 Value Spaces and Value Vocabularies
4.4.1 Value Spaces that Should Follow Standardized Syntax Encoding Rules
4.4.2 Value Spaces that Require Standardized Vocabulary Encoding Schemes
4.4.3 Value Spaces That Require Predefined Lists of Terms
4.5 Crosswalks
4.5.1 Methods Used in Crosswalking
4.5.2 Aligning Elements with Indicators of Matching Degrees
4.6 Best Practice Guides and Other Content Guidelines
4.6.1 Best Practice Guides
4.6.2 Scheme/Vocabulary-Specific Guidelines
4.6.3 Community-Oriented Best Practice Guides
4.6.4 Data Content Standards
4.7. Conclusion

Links to sources

The star* = newly updated* or added**

Figure 4-1-3 Overview of IFLA Library Reference Model (LRM) relationships [Figure 4] .....163

Figure 4-1-7 A diagram illustrating the basics of the BIBFRAME model ......169

Figure 4-1-8 Example of DBpedia Ontology classes presented in a hierarchy (left side) and a class and its properties* (right side) .....171

Figure 4-3-1 An entry for the element Display Creation Date from CDWA Lite (pdf).....179

Figure 4-3-2 Element “dc.contributor” and localized refinement from ETD-MS 1.1 .....185

Figure 4-3-3 Selected elements defined by the National Library of Medicine NLM Metadata Schema (archived from https://www.nlm.nih.gov/tsd/cataloging/metafilenew.html) .....186

Figure 4-4-1 An authority record for “Baldwin, James, 1924–1987” in the FAST Authority File .....199

Figure 4-4-2 Display of place name entries that match the query “Columbus” in Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names (TGN).....200

Figure 4-4-3 Display of a TGN authority record for “Columbus" in Indiana, USA .....200

Figure 4-5-3 Portion of the Metadata Standards Crosswalk [see also the original design with examples] of CDWA to other major metadata vocabularies .....211

Figure 4-6-1 Examples for the date element provided by VRA Core 4.0 [Please check p.7-9 on this pdf file] .....216


Models introduced in Section 4.1 Modeling for Metadata ..... 159-173

Entity-Relationship Modeling (4.1.1)

- content-based

IFLA Library Reference Model (IFLA LRM), published in 2018, consolidated the three conceptual models of the FR family:
1. Functional Requirements for Bibliographic Records (FRBR), published in 1998
2. Functional Requirements for Authority Data (FRAD), published in 2009
3. Functional Requirements for Subject Authority Data (FRSAD), published in 2010
Namespace: "irmer" for LRMer (IFLA Library Reference Model Entity Relationship) https://www.iflastandards.info/lrm/lrmer

- object-based

Categories for the Description of Works of Art (CDWA), revised 2022
VRA Core Schemas and Documentation (Current version 4.0)

- event-based

CIDOC-CRM, International Council of Museums (ICOM) Conceptual Reference Model (CRM)

- collection-based

Encoded Archival Description (EAD) Current version EAD3

Ontological Modeling (4.1.2)

Data Catalog Vocabulary (DCAT) - Version 2
BIBFRAME 2.0 model (see also Figure 4-1-7)
Cyc (pronounced /ˈsk/ SYKE) ontology [about]
OpenCyc [backups]
DBpedia Ontology (DBO) [Ontology Classes] (see also Figure 4-1-8)
Schema.org [schemas]

Modularized structure (4.1.3)
Europeana Data Model (EDM) Documentation [EDM Primer]


For the resources used in 4.3 Metadata Vocabulary/Element Set Specifications --> go to --> Appendix A. Metadata Standards -- metadata schemas, application profiles, and registries

For the resources used in 4.4 Value Spaces and Value Vocabularies --> go to -->
Appendix B. Value Encoding Schemes and Content Standards

Exercises

Developing a metadata element set (a multipart project)

General instruction:
  • This exercise is designed with group work in mind. All group work should be conducted after the related section in this chapter has been taught and studied. A template of steps (using smart phone as objects to be described) is provided on p.222 & p.223.
  • A collection of objects could be identified by the instructor or students:
    • An example would be a collection of unused postcards or bookmarks made of different materials, sizes, and shapes, which have been published in different languages, places, and times for different purposes. Treat the items of the collection as the primary resources (i.e., the postcards themselves, not the images on the postcards).
    • Another exercise could be asking everyone in a group to put their smart phones on the table. The group will take up the challenge to create a data structure standard for describing smart phones (see the template on p.222 & p. 223).
    • One more option for an individual or a team is an Adoptable Pets Registry that provides a website. Treat the pets (either focus on dogs or on cats in this assignment) as the primary THINGs. The basic template for smart
      phones can be used as an example.
  • Create two metadata descriptions using your new element set.
  • Share your experience and thoughts with the group.

Templates for each of these exercises are available on guru site https://guru.metadataetc.org/ for "LBC6 Developing a Metadata Element Set or Application Profile".

Readings

Caplan, Priscilla. 2003. Metadata Fundamentals for All Librarians, chapters 3, 4, and 5. Chicago: American Library Association.

Coyle, Karen, and Thomas Baker. 2009. "Guidelines for Dublin Core Application Profiles." DCMI Recommended Resource. http://dublincore.org/documents/profile-guidelines/.

Greenberg, Jane. 2001. "A Quantitative Categorical Analysis of Metadata Elements in Image-Applicable Metadata Schemes." Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology 52 (11):917-24.

Sugimoto, Shigeo, Senan Kiryakos, Chiranthi Wijesundara, Winda Monika, Tetsuya Mihara, and Mitsuharu Nagamori. 2018. “Metadata Models for
Organizing Digital Archives on the Web: Metadata-Centric Projects at Tsukuba and Lessons Learned.” In DCMI International Conference on Dublin Core and Metadata Applications: DC-2018—The Porto, Portugal Proceedings, 95–105. https://dcpapers.dublincore.org/pubs/article/view/3968.

Sutton, Stuart A. 1999. "Conceptual Design and Deployment of a Metadata Framework for Education Resources on the Internet." Journal of the American Society for Information Science 50 (13):1182−92.

Weibel, Stuart. 2005. "Border Crossings, Reflections on a Decade of Metadata Consensus Building." D-Lib Magazine 11 (7/8). doi:10.1045/july2005-weibel. http://www.dlib.org/dlib/july05/weibel/07weibel.html.

Žumer, Maja. 2018. “IFLA Library Reference Model (IFLA LRM): Harmonisation of the FRBR Family.” In ISKO Encyclopedia of Knowledge Organization, edited
by Birger Hjørland and Claudio Gnoli. http://www.isko.org/cyclo/lrm.