As We Come to a Close

This is actually bittersweet for me. I can't believe this is the end of the road. As I write this, I realize this is my final assignment and my final moment in grad school. As of saturday, I'm officially a librarian. That's so crazy to me. I remember starting this path off with my tribe, the TENacious ten cohort, and I remember orientation, its hard to believe that soon the twelves will be coming through while I search for a job in my field. I've loved every moment of this experience, the late nights, the laughs, the tears, and how I've bonded with my group.

I'll miss you all dearly, and we must keep in touch.


Sincerely and forever TENacious,


Elizabeth

Screencasting: A reflection

So... screen-casting. Not something I had ever done before, and not something I had ever considered, but after this project, I'll definitely be adding it to my resume. I wasn't sure which program to use, so like always I dabbled a little, and let me tell you. Screencast-o-matic is where its at. I loved that it was in the browser and it was so so easy to upload onto youtube. As a whole, it was a joy to work with and something I will keep in mind in my career.

I can see how it would be useful in other classes, teaching and otherwise. Perhaps I'll play with it some for tutorials for the high school classes I sometimes guest lecture in.

Metadata: The new currency

"Data is the new currency". Something to think about.

Dolly White: My early metadata days

So, I know I talk about my previous digital history class a lot, so I just wanted to take a brief moment to show what I've done in the past.

Delores Brumfield is a former utility infielder/outfielder who played from 1947 through 1953 in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. In 1947 Delores Brumfield became one of the youngest players to join the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League at the age of 14. Throughout much of her career, Brumfield exhibited a versatility to play most positions with the exception of pitcher and catcher. Among other career highlights, she posted the best fielding average for all position players in 1950 and finished second in the batting title race in 1953. Following her baseball retirement, she earned a master's degree and doctorate in physical education and worked as a teacher and coach for 40 years. In fact, one of the places she taught, was Montevallo.



Sources; http://carmichaeldigitalprojects.org/archivingmontevallo/collections/show/4

Metadata Standards

Metadata elements grouped into sets designed for a specific purpose, e.g., for a specific domain or a particular type of information resource, are called metadata schemes. For every element the name and the semantics (the meaning of the element) are specified. Content rules (how content must be formulated), representation rules (e.g., capitalization rules), and allowed element values (e.g., from a controlled vocabulary) can be specified optionally. Some schemes also specify in which syntax the elements must be encoded, in contrast to syntax independent schemes.

With this in mind, I've been reading over a lot of different metadata standards. I'm not even going to begin to say I understand them all, but I have noticed that a lot of them have similar basis, and then are customized to fit specific needs, like a funnel effect. 

Sources: http://www.dcc.ac.uk/resources/metadata-standards/list

Indexing Assignment, reflection

Just some thoughts on my Omeka experience:

1. Everyone did such an amazing job with their indexing. As in a really really good job. Anytime I had a question or concern, people were there to help, anytime I was unsure about something, I could look to the guide and everything was clear.

2. So, I've had experience with Omeka before. I took a semester in my undergrad for digital history, and as such I was able to assist in putting together a collection for Dolly White (Link here). With this experience, I found that I really enjoyed the deeper understanding LS566 gave me this semester. Whereas I feel as though in my undergrad I merely dipped my toes into understanding this software, metadata gave me an opportunity to really see what Omeka can do.

3. No, seriously, the indexes were awesome.

Digital Repository: ScreenCast

I'm so excited! This is my screencast for the LS 566 class. I hope you enjoy!

OCLC WorldShare Metadata Manager

Digital Repository: Handout

Digital Repository: Slideshow

The alabama theatre collection from Elizabeth Layton

Metadata and Security

What comes to mind when we think about metadata? For a librarian it is a means to organize information, data about data, but to a hacker? Metadata means security, it means a way to find stored passwords and hidden information. This video focuses on passwords, and how easy they are to obtain.

Archives and metadata

As I continue through my metadata experience with MacCall, I think about what I'm learning in digital libraries and how it applies to my job as a serials and acquisitions coordinator. I've taken digital history in my undergrad, and worked with similar projects, which is why I wanted to showcase another digital collection software that is free to use, but a bit more clunky than Omeka or contentDM. Whereas it might be a little testy, I found an appreciation for being able to see the back end of my coding adventure, and I look forward to continuing to learn about metadata. 

html and metadata

Metadata and Greenstone

^ this is what it looks like to create your own schema in GreenStone

XML and metadata

So, one thing I've always loved about slis is how everything is connected. During this semester I decided to take Digital Libraries along with Metadata which has created a technology rich environment for me to study. One of the things we focused on in Digital Libraries is utilizing XML to write metadata in code. Pictured below is my own assignment in xml coding. 

The fascinating thing about xml is, you define your tagging. It is what you say it is, and it runs as you tell it to run. I've found xml to be just as intuitive as html when it comes to coding (which is another type of coding I love) and found this to be a time to compare and contrast what I've learned in both classes. 

Omeka vs. CONTENTdm

Digital Collection Management with CONTENTdm and Omeka from Gena Chattin

contentDM Part 1: What is it?

CONTENTdm is a digital collection management system consisting of a server on which content is stored, a web-based content discovery interface and tools to upload and manage the content. CONTENTdm also offers a hosting service, whereby users store materials on OCLC servers. CONTENTdm helps you make your library's digital collections available on the Web. With a full range of integrated tools, CONTENTdm is an easy-to-use and flexible digital collection management system. OCLC hosts and supports your CONTENTdm installation, enabling you to focus on building and managing your digital collections.

TEDtalk: Data Visualization

(Side note: I'm absolutely fascinated by how this html inserted this TEDtalk. They really have thought of everything...)

David McCandless turns complex data sets (like worldwide military spending, media buzz, Facebook status updates) into beautiful, simple diagrams that tease out unseen patterns and connections. Good design, he suggests, is the best way to navigate information glut — and it may just change the way we see the world.

Metadata Elements

A metadata record consists of all the metadata elements describing an object. Metadata records are often expressed in XML or other machine-readable formats for easy integration within systems. There are three basic categories of metadata elements: descriptive, technical/structural, and administrative.

As a side note, I really love how this graphic is laid out. Whereas I know I've seen these elements in a lot of different settings, including in cataloging, I've found it difficult to rattle these off from the top of my head. This image almost puts them in concrete memory because of how they are laid out in an almost common sense way, showcasing why each element is the way it is, and where it should be. 

Sources: http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/

Oracle and Metadata

Metadata Gaming Graph

Journals for Metadata

So, I honestly thought this would be a longer list, but here are some journals for metadata not only in libraries but also metadata in general.





International Journal of Metadata, Semantics and Ontologies


Journal of Library Metadata

Metadata and Twitter

While talking about metadata, its important to discuss social media because of its important role in libraries. Social media is an inexpensive and useful tool to have to provide librarians with a means to market their library to the patrons. The following resources go in depth into what role metadata plays in social media and why it is important.

Sources: http://www.slaw.ca/2011/11/17/the-anatomy-of-a-tweet-metadata-on-twitter/

http://readwrite.com/2010/04/19/this_is_what_a_tweet_looks_like/

https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2013/07/16/how-libraries-are-using-social-media/

ContentDM tutorial

Omeka Tutorial

Metadata: Further Reading

You like lists? I like lists. Here's a list of some current books regarding metadata and libraries. Consider it my summer reading. 

An Emergent Theory of Digital Library Metadata: Enrich then Filter

Getaneh Alemu


Metadata in Practice

Diane Ileana Hillmann


Managing ebook Metadata in Academic Libraries: Taming the Tiger


by Donna E Frederick



Developing Quality Metadata: Building Innovative Tools and Workflow Solutions

Cliff Wootton



Metadata And Its Applications In The Digital Library

by Jia Liu

The Metadata Manual: A Practical Workbook

Rebecca Lubas

Metadata Throwback!

Metadata throwback! I love seeing where we've come from versus where we're going. This is a video created by OCLC research four years ago about metadata and where it was at that time.


"Social Metadata Working Group members completed that led them to believe that it is riskier to do nothing and become irrelevant to our user communities than to start using social media features. This work was published in three reports and a separate executive summary that total over 300 pages. The reports include reviews of sites that supported such social media features as tagging, comments, reviews, images, videos, ratings, recommendations, lists, links to related articles; analysis of a survey of site managers; and recommendations on social metadata features most relevant to libraries, archives, and museums and an annotated reading list of the literature we consulted during our research. "

Omeka Part 1: What is it?

Omeka is a free, open source content management system for online digital collections. As a web application, it allows users to publish and exhibit cultural heritage objects, and extend its functionality with themes and plugins. A lightweight solution in comparison to traditional institutional repository software like DSpace and Fedora, Omeka has a focus on display and uses an unqualified Dublin Core metadata standard.

That being said, Omeka is free like kitten, not free like beer. With lots of premium features and extra storage, this system is only free for those who do not need it for a large collection, i.e. students. For those learning about archiving, digitization, and collections, this is the perfect tool for them. Larger libraries sometimes prefer contentDM for these reasons.

Elements: Title guidelines

 

Title Element

• Label

Title

• Element Description

A name given to the resource by which the resource is formally known.

• Required?

Yes

• Repeatable?

No

Guidelines for Creation of Content

The title should capture the major action in an image. 

Data entry should follow the following guidelines:

1. Capitalize the first word and proper nouns
2. Keep other capitalization the same as it is found on the item
3. Use the same capitalization for all titles in a record
4. Write out numbers through 100
5. Write out abbreviations or acronyms
6. Separate titles and subtitles with a colon
7. It is preferred that titles include more than a personal name only

• Examples

Example 1: Joe Football blocks Smart Alec (Clemson) 19XX


Example 2: Seventeen blocks Thirty-Three (Auburn) 19XX

Notes

If the player name is unknown, use the player's number.

The Power of Metadata

What is the power of metadata? MIT Media Lab graduate students Deepak Jagdish and Daniel Smilkov share some surprising insights from Immersion, a tool they built to make sense of email metadata. This is a facinating video that easily applies to library science and its methods to applying metadata in everyday tasks. Metadata is everything, its in our phones, its in our emails, it is the very base of communication and so very important as technology continues to flourish in this day and age.

Metadata Standard: Library of Congress

Whereas this article makes a point to say this is not the current Library of Congress Standard for metadata, this does elaborate on the 1998 Library of Congress Standard. It is interesting to see the evolution of these standards as new information is given, and technology progresses. 

Sources: http://www.loc.gov/standards/metadata.html

http://www.loc.gov/standards/mdc/

Metadata to describe digital content

I love a good documentary whether its from youtube, TEDtalks, or any other medium I can get my hands on. Its always great to listen to another person's perspective, and this is no different. YouTube is a wonderful source for materials. This particular video was designed by a librarian from the University of Utah and walks the viewer through what metadata is, and how to utilize it to showcase and describe digital content. Very interesting video, very insightful information. 

So... what does a metadata librarian do?

This is a question that has come across my mind several times as I worked my way through the semester. What does a metadata librarian do, and is this something I would be interested in? After quite a bit of research, I discovered how fascinating this career path could actually be. According to one blog, "One interesting thing about being a metadata librarian: while we are all doing similar things, we approach metadata work and problems differently: different systems, tools, schemas and schema combinations, workflows, etc. There's nothing monolithic about metadata librarianship!"

While the skills and knowledge cited as necessary varies widely throughout the literature, the common themes are technology and knowledge of current and emerging standards. Also appearing frequently in the literature is the need for LIS graduate programs to catch up to evolving demands for skilled metadata specialists and better prepare students for the work they will face upon entering the field.

Sources: 

http://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1163&context=slissrj

http://dp.la/info/2015/05/27/a-day-in-the-life-the-metadata-librarian-for-the-mountain-west-digital-library/

https://margaperezblog.wordpress.com/2013/09/03/start-by-doing/

GreenStone Part 2: How to use

Greenstone, however a wonderful program, does have a few temperamental moments. During another class, which worked hand in hand with my metadata I had to learn how to create my own schema and put it to use. This tutorial is a great tool to have in order to understand the basics of this program, which can be used on both pc and macs. 

Metadata Schema: Where to Start

Interesting article posted by niso.org regarding metadata and where to begin in creating your own schema. By definition, a metadata schema are sets of metadata elements designed for a specific purpose, such as describing a particular type of information resource. The definition or meaning of the elements themselves is known as the semantics of the scheme.


Source:

http://www.niso.org/apps/group_public/download.php/5271/N800R1_Where_to_start_advice_on_creating_a_metadata_schema.pdf

Metadata Maps

Metadata in Twitter posts lets readers in on your geographic location, the language you speak, the phone you use, and more. They're also a mapmaker's best friend.Twitter's full data stream, their "fire hose", is a very detailed thing. Access to raw tweet upon raw tweet lets brands know what customers think and allows first responders to instantly tabulate hurricane damage. The fire hose is also full of metadata which discloses personal, geographic, and technological information on Twitter's tens of millions of users.




Sources:

http://www.fastcompany.com/3013208/these-amazing-twitter-metadata-visualizations-will-blow-your-mind

Greenstone Part 1: What is Greenstone?

What is Greenstone? Well, according to their website, Greenstone is a suite of software for building and distributing digital library collections. It provides a way of organizing information and publishing it on the web or on removable media such as DVD and USB flash drives. Greenstone is produced by the New Zealand Digital Library Project at the University of Waikato, and developed and distributed in cooperation with UNESCO and the Human Info NGO. It is open-source, multilingual software, issued under the terms of the GNU General Public License. Read the Greenstone Factsheet for more information.The aim of the Greenstone software is to empower users, particularly in universities, libraries, and other public service institutions, to build their own digital libraries.

This free program is a valuable tool for librarians and students alike to dabble in metadata and digital collection building in order to see the basic construction of metadata in a collection.

Metadata: A Gamers World

So, as most people know, gaming is a topic that is close to my heart. With hours spent everyday by millions of users from a wide variety of demographics, I believe that sometimes libraries can look to games as a way to reach out to their patrons. This is no different when it comes to the topic of metadata, namely a crowd sourcing platform known as "Metadata Games".

Metadata Games (according to the website) is a free and open source crowdsourcing game platform. As players play Metadata Games, images, video, and audio from libraries, archives, and museums gain valuable descriptions, making it easier for the general public and scholars to discover these collections.The current MG build we are hosting contains over 45 Collections from 11 Institutions, containing tens of thousands of media items that have generated over 167,000 tags. Their current collaborations include the British Library, Boston Public Library, The Open Parks Network, Digital Public Library of America, and the American Antiquarian Society, among others.


This game platform is a perfect example of how information and libraries can work hand in hand with other resources to create a personal experience for patrons and potential patrons to interact with the library as well as learn about what metadata means to a librarian.





Sources:

http://www.metadatagames.org/

Introduction to Metadata

met·a·da·ta

ˈmedəˌdādə,ˈmedəˌdadə/

noun

1. a set of data that describes and gives information about other data.

This portion of this blog will document my last semester of graduate school as well as my experience in metadata for library and information science. As someone who is not only in school to become a librarian, but also an individual who has worked as a  paraprofessional in libraries, I realize how important metadata is to the profession.