Introduction to Metadata and Record-Building
Schedule pending -- please check back later
Instructor: Bill Landis
Introduction to Metadata and Record-Building
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This workshop is part of a multipart Digitization Series produced by Infopeople with sponsorship from the California Digital Library and Online Archive of California. Other courses in the series include "Scanning for Preservation and Access (hands-on), "Introduction to Metadata and Record-Building (online)" and “Encoded Archival Description (hands-on).” Courses in this series may be taken individually. Each course covers different material. These workshops are designed to help California libraries develop and implement digitization projects, including projects funded through LSTA grants administered by the California State Library. |
Digitization of unique historical materials from your collections is an exciting way to make them available to a broader array of users than has ever before been possible. Funding is also available to support digitization projects. Creation of descriptive and administrative metadata to accompany scanned collection material is an important part of any digitization effort, yet can also seem daunting.
- Have you ever wondered just why there's so much fuss about metadata?
- Do you need help untangling the mass of metadata acronyms?
- Are you worried about getting access right if you're not a cataloger?
- Are you trying to decide where you should turn for help deciding what metadata you need?
- Would you like to be able to use readily available tools to create metadata for your digitization project?
Participants in this workshop will gain a hands-on understanding of what metadata is, how it functions to ensure long-term access to and preservation of digitized collection materials, and strategies for creating metadata and re-using it in a variety of information products.
Workshop Description: This all-day workshop will provide a firm foundation in understanding and implementing the metadata standards and best practices of the California Digital Library and the California State Library. Through lessons, discussion, and hands-on exercises you will explore the critical role that metadata plays in accessing digitized collection material, learn how to identify and implement standards for metadata, explore options for choosing and using tools for creating metadata, create metadata for a variety of digital files, and 'publish' those files and their metadata on the Web.
Preliminary course outline:
- Metadata and digital "objects"
- How metadata functions in relation to
digital objects
- Identification
- Location
- Finding similar things
- Understanding context
- Ensuring long-term preservation of digital objects
- Components of a digital object
composed of a file(s) and metadata
- How a digital object can be used
- Why metadata standards and consistency
matter
- Interfaces that satisfy end users
- Helping end users obtain predictable results from an information resource
- Enabling information professionals to assist end users more effectively
- Empowering end users in their use of retrieved digital objects
- Tools for metadata creation
- Exploring a range of options
- Using existing data management systems
- Starting from scratch on a shoestring
- Preparing to create metadata
- Understanding the standards
- Choosing the standards appropriate for your project
- Creating metadata step-by-step using
the CDL/CSL standards
- Required metadata elements
- Describing simple objects
- Describing complex objects
- Use and re-use of metadata
- Issues for exporting metadata
- Understanding and using metadata crosswalks
- Making your digital objects available to end users on the Web
- Migration of digital objects over time
- The exciting future for reusable metadata
Who Should Attend: Anyone in a California library who:
- is about to undertake a digitization project that will involve creating metadata
- is planning a scanning project and wants to know more about metadata functions, requirements, and resources
- needs to add metadata to existing files of digitized information
- is interested in adding this valuable skill to his or her repertoire
Prerequisites: Basic knowledge of Microsoft Excel or some other spreadsheet software is required. Note: This is not a cataloging course and no cataloging experience is required.
Pre-workshop assignment: This course makes extensive use of the Online Archive of California's LSTA Digital Projects Manual. In preparation for using the OAC Manual in class, students should visit http://dynaweb.oac.cdlib.org/lsta/OAC-LSTA-projman.html to get an overview of Manual contents and familiarize themselves with its layout and organization before coming to the workshop.
Please Note: There is a $75.00 fee for this workshop. Infopeople does not provide parking passes, lunch or refreshments.
