For this final project you will select two (2) information systems used in cultural heritage institutions (e.g. library catalogs, archival finding aids, museum registers – any system used in libraries, archives, museums, or digital repositories is acceptable) analyze it, and produce an essay on your findings. The systems should use different metadata schema. This means that you should not select two library catalogs for example. Describe, compare, and analyze the metadata standards, elements and contents, and evaluate the system from a user perspective. You should integrate at least 6 different sources to situate your analysis (you may use readings from class). If you cite 1 source 6 times this is still 1 source.
The following subheadings must be used in your essay: Metadata Standards, Metadata Elements, Metadata Contents, Comparison, and User Perspective. The essay should be no more than four pages of single-spaced texts (this does not include your bibliography. Include one screenshot of each systems’ interface. Use APA Citation format)
Essay Structure
- Introduction: Provide a brief description of the industries/institutions. For example, if you are analyzing a public library catalog, you should provide some detail about the community/population the library serves: population, is it urban/ rural, single/ multi branch library system etc. Conversely, if you are analyzing Smokey Dupree’s digital collection you should share some background data about this individual and the collection where it is housed.
- Metadata Standards: What scheme are in use? What types of resources does the schema typically organize? You may need to investigate standards relating to your particular community.
- Metadata Elements: What are the elements included in your selected system.
- Metadata Contents: What is the element describing? What kind of searchable data is there? (e.g. Ask yourself, what does the element describe? In this case our element “Title” is a description of a resource. The metadata contents for title is: A name given to a resource.)
- Comparison: What is similar about the schema? What is different about them?
- User Perspective: Try searching the systems and give your opinion on how well the systems retrieved searches or not. Is it oriented to the everyday user or does it require specialized knowledge to effectively manipulate? Do you see any barriers users may encounter using the two systems?
Compare Metadata similarities/differences between:
National Library of Medicine: Home – NLM Catalog – NCBI (nih.gov)
National Archives Catalog: The National Archives Catalog
Resources
United States Census Bureau: Census.gov
The Organization of Information, 4th Edition, by Daniel N. Joudrey and Arlene G. Taylor ISBN-13: 978-1598848588 ISBN-10: 9781598848588
Introduction to Modern Information Retrieval, 3rd Edition, by G G Chowdhury, Facet Publishing, 2010
Neal-Schuman Library Technology Companion: A Basic Guide for Library Staff (6th edition) by John J. Burke. Published by American Library Association.
Dublin Core Metadata Guide: DCMI: Creating Metadata (dublincore.org)
0 comments