Metadata, data about data, in the past 100 years has solely been the responsibility of info. professionals involved in cataloging, classification, and indexing.
Today, with the rise of new technologies, the average user of the internet is engaged in creating metadata through the use of web page title tags, folksonomies, and social bookmarking.
Library meta data provides intellectual and physical access to collection materials including indexes, abstracts, and bibliographic records all created according to catalogue rules (AACR, MARC, LCSH, or AAT).
Meta data shared over a network has five main functions: it certifies the authenticity and the degree of completeness of the content, it establishes and documents the context of the content, it identifies and exploits the structural relationships that exist within and between info. objects, and also it provides some of the information that info. professionals might provide in person.
Folksonomies and social bookmarking are examples of user-created meta data. The advantages of this type of meta data are that communities can create meta data based on their needs, and it is an inexpensive way of augmenting existing meta data. The disadvantages are: lack of quality control, and inoperability.
Hi Erin,
ReplyDeleteYou mention that medata provides informatino that information professionals might utilize in person. From working in a library, librarians do not utilize the actual concept of medata in order to explain how to access various elements to the customers. What methods do you recommend for aspiring librarians to not only utilize medata, but also apply it in such a way that the average customer could understand?
Adam Brody
Hi Adam,
ReplyDeleteI agree that librarians don't often discuss metatdata with patrons. I was thinking of the digital catalogue---many patrons want to know if the book they are about to order is the latest in a series. The entry of the catalogue would include the year of publication, so the information that I might provide in person would be the suggestion to check the publication date.
This is something I might show a patron how to do at the catalogue in the library, but it is also something one could do at home over the network.
Erin