Metadata Primer for Map Librarians

Abstract

Confused about Metadata? Not to worry--so is everybody else. Metadata is undoubtedly one of the most complex issues facing map librarians in the digital age. There are several reasons for the confusion. First, there are a number of competing standards for metadata. These standards are evolving and, in some cases, converging. To further complicate matters, there are many different types of digital files that may be described by metadata. A type of metadata that works well with one kind of file may be too cumbersome or inadequate to describe others. The situation becomes more manageable if one is concerned about producing metadata for a particular application. None of the metadata standards are that difficult to understand and apply. Our purpose here is to provide an overview of existing standards, to show you where to get more information, and to suggest which types of metadata may be most appropriate for particular kinds of digital files.