A peer reviewed report of metadata formats. Metadata is data which describes attributes of a resource. A more formal definition is: metadata is data associated with objects which relieves their potential users of having to have full advance knowledge of their existence or characteristics.

The review provides background information to the DESIRE project to enable the implications of using particular metadata formats to be assessed. Part I is a brief introductory review of issues including consideration of the environment of use and the characteristics of metadata formats. A broad typology of metadata is introduced to provide a framework for analysis. Part II consists of an outline of resource description formats in directory style. This includes generic formats, but also, to give an indication of the range of development, domain-specific formats. The intention is not to be comprehensive, but to give sufficient examples to support understanding of a rapidly developing environment.. The focus is on metadata for 'information resources' broadly understood rather than on the variety of other approaches which exist within particular scientific, engineering and other areas.

Based on the review, the DESIRE project chose to use a generic metadata format for the records in the subject-based information gateways; the recommendations for this format are available as a separate document.

The review will be of interest to anyone with an interest in metadata issues and electronic cataloguing. The development of metadata standards are still in a state of flux and this report reviews the metadata formats that were current during the period of May 1996 to March 1997 (readers should follow references to the individual formats to determine the most recent developments).

Citations

"Stu Weibel of OCLC, who has been laboring in the metadata orchard for years, calls this report "the single most comprehensive survey of metadata standards and issues that I am aware of." Such strong endorsement should make all those interested in metadata issues on the Internet run, not walk to the site where this report can be found (the excellent site maintained by the UKOLN Metadata Group at http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/metadata/)". Citation from Current Cites Volume 8, no. 5, May 1997 http://sunsite.berkeley.edu/CurrentCites/1997/cc97.8.5.html