"A centre of excellence in digital information management, providing advice and services to the library, information and cultural heritage communities."

UKOLN is based at the University of Bath.

UKOLN has been involved in the Dublin Core Metadata Initiative since the DC-2: OCLC/UKOLN Metadata Workshop at Warwick University in 1996. UKOLN staff have contributed since then to the ongoing development of the Dublin Core by authoring recommendations, proposals and background papers; by developing software tools; by chairing working groups and participating in workshops and conferences; and by many hours of discussion and email debate on the finer issues of metadata.

In the process we have made many contacts internationally and built up links and partnerships with like minded people and organizations in the 'metadata world'.

In 2004, the UK joined the DCMI Affiliate Programme, becoming the second DCMI Affiliate. The MLA and JISC are funding the UK's role in the Programme, with UKOLN acting as a 'managing agent'. The Affiliate Programme will provide a stronger link between local communities of practice and the DCMI. As part of this agreement UKOLN will be continuing its work supporting the DCMI both by provision of authoritative documentation, including the UK DCMI Affiliate web site and promotion of interoperability based on deployment of Dublin Core.