Multi-purpose metadata for collections

Introduction

The second Collection Description Focus workshop will concentrate on how collection-level descriptions are used and particularly how they are reused in different contexts. One of the characteristics of metadata is that a metadata record can act as a surrogate for the resource being described, albeit in a limited way. A collection-level description provides an overview of an aggregation of items - and such an overview may be useful in a wide range of contexts.

Resources such as directories and guides of various forms are often sets of collection-level descriptions gathered together on the basis of the geographical location of the collections or the subject material of the items in the collections. The administrator or owner of a collection should not be required to re-describe their holdings each time they create an entry for such a resource. The requirement for "reusability" is, then, an important consideration in the creation of collection-level descriptions.

Typically, however, a collection-level description is created within the context of a specific activity or project. As part of that context, it may be created to support certain functions or to be used by a particular user group - for example, to support academic researchers in one subject area. If such descriptions are to be reused in other contexts (possibly for different user groups, or to support different activities), that may raise a number of issues: the selection of collections for inclusion; the way a collection is defined ("functional granularity"), the use of content/terminology standards and the description/measure of collection strength.

This Workshop brings together practitioners from across the information management traditions and from different backgrounds and disciplines. It will explore some of the challenges involved in reusing collection descriptions. The objective is to highlight some of the issues involved and to establish consensus on approaches which minimise some of the difficulties.

The Workshop will combine presentation sessions and smaller informal discussion groups.

There is no charge for this event.

Target audience: The event is aimed at practitioners working in this area, including those describing collections or developing and implementing services which utilise such descriptions, and those with an interest in the development and deployment of standards in this area. All who attended the first workshop in Manchester are invited to attend, however it should be noted that this event has a different theme so attendance at the first workshop is not a requirement.

All queries regarding this event should be made to Sara Hassen, Events & Marketing Manager. Email: s.hassen@ukoln.ac.uk