Metadata Strategy at Library and Archives Canada

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Metadata Strategy at Library and Archives Canada

• IM ForumThursday June 8, 2006

Deane Zeeman, LeadMetadata Strategy Catalytic
InitiativeLibrary and Archives Canada
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Outline

• Metadata Defined
• Metadata Standards
• Metadata Strategy Catalytic Initiative
• Projects
• Metadata Framework
• Leadership
• Whats Next?

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Metadata Defined

• Derived from two classical language words
• meta about in Greek
• data information in Latin
• metadata is ltinformationgt about information.
• A series of ELEMENTS, each relating to a specific
  ASPECT of the information, all expressed in a
  STANDARDIZED way.
• Descriptive text about something
• A surrogate for the object being described

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Metadata Defined Metadata is

• Data that describes the content, format or
  attributes of an information resource
• It can be applied to the description of
• Electronic resources
• Digital data including images
• Printed documents such as books, journals and
  reports
• Records in any format
• It can be variously stored
• Embedded within the resource (e.g. Web page
  metadata) or ,
• Held separately in a database (e.g. ERDMS,
  library OPAC, scholarly repository).

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Metadata Defined Metadata at LAC

• Sets of description and organizational
  elements that contextualize, describe, preserve
  and provide access to information resources in
  any medium.

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Metadata Defined What does this mean?

• Metadata are pieces of descriptive information
  (elements) used to describe publications,
  records and archival materials in all media
  (books, manuscripts, government records, photos,
  digitized images, sound recordings, video
  recordings, etc.)
• Good metadata is standardized using agreed-upon
• Labels
• Information layout
• Information content
• Good descriptive metadata improves our ability to
  find and use information.

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Metadata and standards

• Government of Canada (TBITS 39)
• Structured data about data used to aid the
  identification, description, location or use of
  information resources.
• Dublin Core
• In general, "data about data functionally,
  "structured data about data."
• Information that expresses the intellectual
  content, intellectual property and/or
  instantiation characteristics of an information
  resource
• for purposes of description, administration,
  legal requirements, technical functionality, use
  and usage, and preservation.
• ISO 15489
• Data describing the context, content and
  structure of records and their management through
  time

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Metadata Standards at LAC

• International
• Content
• AACR2 and RDA (publications)
• RAD (records)
• LCSH/CSH and RVM
• PREMIS (digital preservation)
• Communication formats
• MARC (published and unpublished)
• HTML, XML (Web)
• ONIX (book trade supply chain)
• METS (digital objects)
• Government of Canada
• TBITS 39 and Dublin Core
• Core Subject Thesaurus
• RMMS and RMAP
• BASCS

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Metadata Strategy Catalytic Initiative

• Purpose
• Developing and implementing a strategy for a
  holistic approach to description facilitating
  integrated access to published and unpublished
  resources in all media.
• Targets
• Guiding principles and key building blocks
  for creating a comprehensive and flexible
  metadata foundation, demonstrating our objective
  of and capacity to fulfil our mandate of making
  known our documentary heritage.
• Access is the driver

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MCI Projects - 1Ingest and Re-Use of Externally
Produced Metadata

• Metadata from Publishers
• Canadian ISBN Service System (CISS)
• Registers publishers and allows them to manage
  their own ISBNs.
• Provides export functionality either in MS Excel
  or ONIX (ONline Information eXchange),
• Pilot testing by publishers in September 2006.
• To come Means of transforming publisher-provided
  metadata for ingest into LAC systems
• Metadata from GoC Government Departments and
  Agencies
• Records Management Metadata Standard aligned with
  GoC and ISO standards
• Core set of elements for use in describing
  records through their life cycle.
• Links with metadata needs of LAC for long-term
  archival preservation.
• Metadata set aligned with GoC core metadata
  standard (TBITS 39) and with LAC requirements for
  archival records transfer.
• To come incorporation into the functional
  requirements of the RDIMS shared solution (PWGSC).

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MCI Projects - 2Integrated Practices

• Name Authorities
• Study of impacts of integrating LAC approach to
  name authorities to
• Make it easier for cataloguers and archivists to
  use each others work
• Make it possible for LAC to provide an integrated
  file of established names for other uses
• Controlled Vocabulary Use
• Subject access for archival fonds making sense
  of varying descriptive practices related to use
  of controlled subjects and keywords to improve
  client information discovery.
• Leveraging tools developed for bibliographic
  description as means of improving access to
  archival holdings.
• Internal consultations increase understanding of
  the value of the skills and knowledge of various
  groups and of how they could be harnessed to
  improve access for clients.
• Potential for re-use of Functions Classification
  information coming to LAC with ingested
  departmental records

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Metadata Framework for Resource Discovery

• A set of guiding principles for the creation and
  management of metadata for resource discovery and
  related activities
• Sets an overall strategic direction within which
  policies, practices and plans related to resource
  description and resources discovery will be
  expanded and enhanced in consultation with
  stakeholders and partners.
• Purpose
• Improve strategic planning
• Improve corporate decision-making
• Provide a communication Vehicle
• Demonstrate metadata leadership

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Metadata Framework Principles

• Statements about metadata quantity and quality
  for resources discovery/access.
• Designed to help managers make decisions about
  how best to invest in metadata creation and
  management while balancing the institutions
  mandate to provide access and the need to do this
  efficiently.

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Leadership in Metadata

• Sharing research results and leading the way.
• Participation in descriptive standards
  development for new domains
• NISO MetaSearch Initiative
• Dublin Core Metadata Initiative
• Sponsorship of IM community events
• New Directions in Description
• Canadian Metadata Forum
• Encouragement of dialogue on common metadata
  standards for libraries, archives and museums

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Whats Next?

• Deliverables due by end of June 2006.
• Only the beginning of a new orientation for LAC
• Role of the Intellectual Management Office
• The way forward
• Partnerships (internal and external)
• Continuous improvement for users
• Enhanced access using tools
• Descriptive standards convergence across the
  cultural heritage domain

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Thank you

• Deane Zeeman
• Lead, Metadata Strategy Catalytic Initiative
• Library and Archives Canada
• [phone]
• deane.zeeman_at_lac-bac.gc.ca