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Catherine Worrall Slide Library Co-ordinator, University College Falmouth
Catherine WorrallSlide Library Co-ordinator, University College Falmouth
Metadata Standards – what are they and why use them?
The Image Space overview
The Image Space - metadata standards - retrieval - search results - future plans
Outline
Image metadata standards – what are they?
These 3 metadata standards make up your metadata schema:
Data structure – such as VRA Core 4.0: a data standard that provides an element set (fields) to describe works of art and their digital surrogates, and (CDWA) Categories for the Description of Works of Art
Data content rules – guidance in formatting the data values/contents of field elements, such as (CCO) Cataloguing Cultural Objects
Data values/controlled vocabularies – such as the Getty vocabularies (recommended for the cultural heritage community)
Image metadata standards – why use them?
Promotes best practice, and prevents subjectivity
Promotes consistency of recording and retrieving data
Promotes interoperability and collaboration
Facilitates record migration
The Image Space project – what is it?
Project to create, manage and provide access to unique digital image collections for staff and students at UCF.
Collections: Degree and MA showsCornwall Artists and DesignersArt and Design History
Digital Image Management System:MDID 2 (Madison Digital Image Database), open source,
free of charge, used widely.
Web address: mdid.org provides links to a community mailing list
The Image Space – metadata standards
Data Structure and metadata element set: VRA Core 4.0-although we do not have a distinction between ‘Work’ and ‘Image’, as MDID does not facilitate this
Data Content Rules: (CCO) Cataloguing Cultural Objects -although when terms are derived from multiple sources, we use their data content rules as guidance
The Image Space – metadata standards
Data Value Standards (controlled vocabularies):
- Getty Vocabularies: (AAT) Art & Architecture Thesaurus (ULAN) Union List of Artist Names (TGN) Thesaurus of Geographic Names
- (LCSH) Library of Congress Subject Headings- (LCTGM) Library of Congress Thesaurus for Graphic Material- ICONCLASS- MLA Modern Language Association- Grove Dictionary of Art- Tate Glossary of Terms
The Image Space – metadata standardsLocal terms
Specialist local terms created if not sourced through data value standards:
-Work Type: ‘book illustration’ & ‘contemporary crafts’-Subjects: ‘domestic interiors’ & ‘train stations’-Technique: ‘oil on canvas’ & ‘hand embroidery’
Knitting collections also may utilize specialist, unique terms unavailable from established standards
Local terms can be suggested to Getty vocabularies, and if agreed will be added
Look Here! Partners could create a national authority file of agreed terms, to share with the wider sector and the Getty?
The Image Space – metadata standards
Setting up field elements in MDID
MDID uses Dublin Core as default template Map Dublin Core to VRA Core Metadata template includes all VRA Core 4 fields, other than ‘Collection’
wrapper Recommended VRA minimum fields are: Creator, Title, Date, Work Type,
location
VRA Core 4.0 field element structure is available at:http://www.vraweb.org/projects/vracore4/
The Image Space – metadata standards
Metadata workflow in MDID1. In ‘Management’ and ‘Collections’ select ‘collection’2. In ‘selection properties’, select ‘create image’3. In ‘Editor’ fill in your fields, referring to CCO, your controlled vocabularies
and local authority file4. Click ‘browse’ to upload your image and save changes5. Update authority file with new terms
Tips Be consistent! Create an authority file – to speed up the process!
The Image Space – metadata standards
Editor page showing template
The Image Space - retrieval
In MDID 2 you can browse by any field
The Image Space - retrieval
You can search across collections
The Image Space - retrieval
In ‘Collection overview’ you can search by terms displayed as cloud tags
The Image Space – search results
Results page showing thumbnails and brief records
The Image Space – search results
Results page in Slide Viewer screen, showing full record
The Image Space – future plans
Migrate to MDID 3 which is due out this summer Launch project using MDID 3 this autumn Complete cataloguing of Courtauld images Develop Cornwall Artists and Designers Tailor Art and Design History collection Develop collections to support more courses Participate and collaborate
