Cataloging Digital Resources: UW Libraries Metadata Implementation Group
OLAC/MOUG 2000 Conference, Oct. 14, 2000, Seattle

1. UW Libraries and metadata
         "Traditional" cataloging units
   
   • Product: UW Libraries Catalog
     
   • Cataloging books, videos, internet resources, etc.
     
   • Standards well-established for academic libraries (MARC format, AACR2, LCSH, LC Classification)
   
   
2. UW Libraries and metadata
         Digital Initiatives Program (http://content.lib.washington.edu/)
   
   • Product: image collections stored and viewed with CONTENT software (http://contentdm.com/)
     
   • Cataloging digitized images and texts
     
   • A variety of standards, some established, some evolving
   
   
3. Metadata Implementation Group
         (http://www.lib.washington.edu/msd/mig/)
   
   • Formed in March 1998
     
   • Volunteers: mainly catalogers, paraprofessionals and librarians
     
   • Our charge: develop and promote metadata standards
   
   
4. Scope of DIP projects
         Microcosm of the different communities and different approaches to information
   
   • UW Libraries collections (Special Collections historical photographs, Fish-Ocean Library book illustrations)
     
   • UW Libraries grant projects (Thai Journal Indexing, Central Eurasian Information Resources)
     
   • Faculty teaching slide collections (botany, architecture, astronomy)
   
   
5. Metadata development process
   
   • Each project has "metadata liaison" who works with "database owner"
     
   • Liaison consults with MIG on metadata decisions
     
   • Pre-existing metadata schema and content or starting from scratch
     
   • Challenge: guidelines that leverage years of cataloging expertise, but avoid the complexity of traditional standards
   
   
6. Metadata development process
         More challenges
   
   • Meet needs of diverse databases and users
     
   • Metadata consistency within and between databases
     
   • Metadata standards in an evolving software environment
   
   
7. Software context
         CONTENT software
   
   • Distributed input of images and metadata
     
   • Database fields can be mapped to simple Dublin Core
     
   • Dublin Core mapping enables cross-database searching (metadata crosswalk)
   
   
8. Data dictionaries
         (http://www.lib.washington.edu/msd/mig/datadicts/)
         For each project data dictionary documents:
   
   • Database-specific field labels
     
   • Mapping of fields to DC elements
     
   • Data formatting instructions
     
   • Authority file recommended (if any)
   
   
9. Authority files recommended
   
   • For proper names: LC National Authority File
     
     • Largest file of headings, highest hit rate
       
     • Consistency across DIP databases and UW Libraries Catalog
       
     • Familiarity: staff already have skills and knowledge to use or train others
   
   
10. Subject authority files
    
    • Library of Congress Subject Headings
      
      • Large file, universal coverage
        
      • Consistency across protects and UW catalog
        
      • Familiarity
    • LC Thesaurus for Graphic Materials
      
      • Complements LCSH
        
      • Created especially for images (LC's historical photographs)
    • Art & Architecture Thesaurus
      
      • Large file, more detailed specialized coverage
        
      • True thesaurus, excellent structure
    
    
11. Metadata conflicts?
          Consequences of different thesauri used in same DC element not yet tested
    
    • DC Subject: LCSH vs. AAT
      
      • Church buildings vs. Churches
    • DC Coverage: LC Authority File vs. Board of Geographic Names
      
      • Moscow vs. Moskva
    
    
12. Lessons learned-so far
    
    • Beware of influence of "legacy" databases on metadata choices
      
    • Need for constant review and evolution as our understanding of standards change, as new databases are added
      
    • Need for reengineering when we change our minds or when standards change (flexible software, ability to remap DC, do global updates)