A Metadata Future, Beyond Libraries

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A Metadata Future, Beyond Libraries

• Diane I. Hillmann
• National Science Digital Library
• Cornell University

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First, some background

• NSDL is an NSF-funded project to improve science
  math, engineering technology education in the
  U.S.
• At this stage functions primarily as a metadata
  aggregator, bringing together metadata from other
  NSDL projects as well as data from projects
  outside NSDL

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My World

• Largely uninhabited by librarians
• Too many technologists rediscovering the wheel
• How hard can it be?
• Lots of views from 50,000 feet, but whats on the
  ground is very muddy

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A Current View of Metadata Aggregation

• Rarely created by librarians (sometimes by
  machines)
• Often created in isolation
• Presents a broad range of quality issues
• Spotty infrastructure for sharing
• Little training or documentation available for
  creators of metadata

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Where are the Librarians?

• In libraries, not on project teams!
• Perfecting cataloging practice in a very bounded
  space
• Still worrying about who catalogs what and
  fretting over the demise of professional
  cataloging?
• Ignoring the larger world of metadata, which is
  in desperate need of their skills

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Horror stories

• The digital photo collection
• Projects in space
• Not our problem
• Evaluation hell

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The Disconnect

• Digital libraries are not the same as traditional
  libraries
• Broad issues are the same, but play out
  differently in a digital environment
• Differences are poorly understood by most
  librarians
• Traditional cataloging training does not prepare
  librarians to operate in the world of metadata

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What the heck do you do all day, Diane?

• Work with programmers to design applications and
  processes for managing metadata
• Test and re-test applications
• Review metadata records created by others
  (individually and in files)
• Consult with projects and partners (XML schemas,
  crosswalks, data display, etc.)

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What the heck ? (cont.)

• Documentation (and more documentation)
• Project and service management
• DCMI activities
• Research and writing
• Training and evangelism

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What We Offer as Librarians

• Sound understanding of organizing principles and
  over a century of practice
• Experience in a production environment
• Cultural predisposition towards service to users,
  investment in long-term solutions, and
  collaboration with others

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What I Wish I Knew

• Formal data modeling
• More XML
• Cascading stylesheets (and other basic scripting)
• XHTML

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Where to Start (in libraries)

• Establish metadata services units within library
  catalog departments
• Market project based consultations
• Work proactively with grant managers to encourage
  metadata planning and adequate funding in ALL
  grant proposals
• Fund more participation in standards efforts and
  metadata conferences
• Organize and fund local workshops

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Where to Start (in library schools)

• Partner established faculty with adjuncts in the
  field to develop appropriate curriculum
• Look for research collaboration opportunities
  with digital library projects
• Find internship opportunities in digital library
  projects for students
• Explore funding opportunities for students to
  participate in conferences and standards
  activities

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And

• If we dont accept the challenge that this new
  world presents, we risk significant
  marginalization
• If we do recognize that this new world presents
  an enormous and wonderful opportunity to show
  what we know and what we can do, we can prove yet
  again that

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Librarians Rule!