It is very important for everyone involved with a metadata creation project to have at outset a clear understanding of the extent of metadata that should be created for any particular project. A happy medium can be struck between too much detail and not enough detail. Time commitments and timeframes for completion of a project can also guide the extent of the information gathered for a particular project.
For each digital project, personnel will be identified, assigned, and included from the outset of the project, according to the anticipated needs of the particular project. It is recommended that all personnel who will be involved at any stage of the project (including a representative from the Metadata Cookbook Committee) convene for an introductory meeting and general discussion of the parameters of the project. The project manager will then tap personnel as their expertise is required to complete the various stages of the project.
The following major steps are typically included in any digital project. Many tasks will be underway simultaneously.
The following need to review and approve the digital project before it goes “live” to the public:
A draft press release or announcement will be written by the project manager, with the assistance of the content specialist for the project. Others who will review and approve the communiqué are:
The Library publicity coordinator will handle distribution of press releases and other publicity regarding the project and will coordinate with communications directors of institutions that may be collaborating on the project.
Create and use templates whenever possible to avoid unnecessary duplicate keying in of information.
Determine the context of a collection at the outset of a metadata project. For example, is the collection a “collection of postcards” or a “collection of correspondence on postcards?” In the former, the Creator would be the photographer, if the name is provided; the Contributor would be the photographic studio. In the latter, the Creator would be the person writing the correspondence on the postcard; the Contributor would be the photographer and/or the photographic studio and/or postcard company (H & H Postcard Co.)
For classical music, the Creator would be the composer and Contributors would be the conductor and orchestra members, whereas in jazz music, the members of the combo might be considered the Creator(s).
For plays, the playwright (and the director and set designer) would be considered the Creator(s), whereas the actors would be considered Contributor(s).
Use QuickGuides for types of images:
Other QuickGuides may be developed as needed to cover handwritten letters and other handwritten items, architectural drawings and photographs, drawings, and scrapbooks.
h3>TemplatesCreate and use templates whenever possible to avoid unnecessary duplicate keying in of information.
Determine the context of a collection at the outset of a metadata project. For example, is the collection a “collection of postcards” or a “collection of correspondence on postcards?” In the former, the Creator would be the photographer, if the name is provided; the Contributor would be the photographic studio. In the latter, the Creator would be the person writing the correspondence on the postcard; the Contributor would be the photographer and/or the photographic studio and/or postcard company (H & H Postcard Co.)
For classical music, the Creator would be the composer and Contributors would be the conductor and orchestra members, whereas in jazz music, the members of the combo might be considered the Creator(s).
For plays, the playwright (and the director and set designer) would be considered the Creator(s), whereas the actors would be considered Contributor(s).
Use QuickGuides for types of images:
Other QuickGuides may be developed as needed to cover handwritten letters and other handwritten items, architectural drawings and photographs, drawings, and scrapbooks.
If Subjects (controlled vocabulary) is not used, Keywords must be used. Whenever possible, the names of people, organizations, and places will match the form established in the Library of Congress Name Authority file (LCNAF). The linked data version is available at http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names.html. (The approved term is always the one that is bold or hyperlinked).
A cumulating keyword list of terms that are local or customized to UA will be established in CONTENTdm for use across digital projects. An external file of same will also be maintained for inputters working on/from spreadsheets.
When a new term is needed, the inputter should contact the content specialist or project manager, who will confer with the project cataloger(s) who are assigned to the project.
The optional Type (AAT) element may be used along with the required Type element to provide fuller information about the kind of object being digitized. Use one or more terms from the Art and Architecture Thesaurus list. (Parenthetical qualifiers have been omitted unless needed to distinguish between two otherwise identical terms.) Definitions for terms may be found in the AAT online at http://www.getty.edu/research/tools/vocabularies/aat/. If additional terms are needed, consult the project cataloger(s) and the project manager. Also, the project manager may decide at the outset to limit use of the list to just a subset of the terms; if so, these should be documented for staff performing data entry.