CLSC 555 IS Webliography by Robert Christopher

CLSC 555 Information Systems Webliography: Metadata and XML
By
Robert Christopher

| Definitions | Organizations for Metadata and XML |Using Metadata and XML|

Definitions
- Introduction to XML, by Dino Esposito, DNJ Online
  The author explains that XML is quickly turning into the standard for data exchange across the Web and between applications. The article discusses the origins of XML and how it differs HTML very clearly. However, the title of this article may lead a reader to believe that this can get one started using XML but it is not a tutorial.
- The XML FAQ v4.0 (2005-01-01) Frequently-Asked Questions about the Extensible Markup Language, edited by Peter Flynn
  The site was initially established by the World Wide Web Consortium's XML Special Interest Group. The questions are divided into four sections - General, Users, Authors, and Developers and cover definitions and uses of XML. The topics are given brief treatment, though, so more information may be needed to answer many questions fully.
- Digital Libraries- Metadata As If Libraries Depended on It, by Roy Tennant, Library Journal
  Mr. Tennant is enjoyable to read and defines metadata as "a structured description of an object or collection of objects." The article then delineates practical usage of metadata in a library cataloging environment. This article is good for catalogers, but those seeking a broader discussion of metadata need to look elsewhere.
- Understanding Metadata, NISO Press, National Information Standards Organization
  This file explains the fundamentals of metadata. It is well organized and has links to other resources. However, those outside the field of Library Science may not find understanding of metadata uses beyond Libary Science.
- What is metadata?, Metadata Education Project, sponsored by The Wyoming Geographic Information Science Center
  This page offers several good and basic definitions of metadata. It also discusses why metadata is important and gives examples of good and bad metadata. Those seeking broad applications of metadata need to look elsewhere, though, as this resource is primarily for those in the field of Geographic Information Science (GIS).
Organizations for Metadata and XML
- Dublin Core Metadata Initiative, DCMI hosted by OCLC Research
  The DCMI is an open forum for the advancement and understanding of interoperable online metadata standards that support a broad range of goals and businesses. Metadata crosswalks will only become more important in the future, so this is a worthy project.There are plenty of links and resources on this site, but it may be difficult to get a specific answer to a specific question when searching the site.
- The Text Encoding Initiative (TEI), sponsored by the TEI Consortium
  TEI provides guidelines for encoding text to be distributed electronically. They use XML to prepare metadata for use and access by libraries, museums, publishers and individual scholars. There were some enticing topics to explore, but dead links were prevalent on the site.
- The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), Matthieu Fuzellier, Webmaster
  The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) works with developing interoperablity technology issues like guidelines, software and tools; these issues involve the use of metadata and XML. The site has forums and information for XML, metadata and other subjects. While this site has links to basic tutorials, the site itself has more for those already experienced with XML and metadata.
- XML.ORG, Site hosted by OASIS
  XML.ORG is an industry web portal formed and introduced in June 1999 by OASIS.This site has an XML beginner's guide and discussions about how XML is used in a variety of fields. Much information is provided at this site, but it takes some patience to find your way to specific answers to specific questions.
Using Metadata and XML
- IMS Learning Resource Meta-data Best Practices and Implementation Guide v1.1, sponsored by IMS Global Learning Consortium, Inc.
  This site explains the IEEE's conceptual model for using XML and metadata. This very detailed presentation has clear explanations. However, this is a highly technical and specific model and does not provide a "quick overview" - beginners will need to take time to comprehend this resource.
- Metadata and XML: Defining a New Intelligence Paradigm, by Chris Wheedleton
  This resource explains why metadata and XML will be important to the U.S. Intelligence Community in our post-9/11 world. It is a detailed explanation of a practical example of the uses of metadata and XML, truly a real-world case-study. While it does offer basic descriptions of principles involved, it has a very narrow target audience.
- Modeling, Metadata, and XML, by Ken North, New Architect Magazine
  This article is for data modelers and explains reasons to use XML in data modeling. It explains concrete reasons for choosing XML. This article is geared to those who are learned and/or professionals in the field, so beginners may need more experience to apppreciate the comments made.
- MetaNet - A Metadata Term Thesaurus to Enable Semantic Interoperability Between Metadata Domains, by Jane Hunter, Journal of Digital Information
  Here is presented a specific use of metadata to create "crosswalks" or interoperablity of data between different electronic systems. This is a concrete and indicative study of the use of metadata. Practical as this demonstration is,it is not immediately approachable by the novice. Much background study would be needed to fully understand the process this article represents.
- The Open Archives Initiative Protocol for Metadata Harvesting, sponsored by the Open Archives Initiative
  This site explains proposed rules and guidelines for using metadata to gather (harvest) item records from a variety of electronic resources. XML is used to encode the records. This is XML and metadata in action, but the resource is technical, detailed and will require study for full comprehension.
- XML Tutorial, W3Schools, by Refnes Data
  This tutorial covers basic definitions and descriptions of XML and its uses. It seems very thorough. This resource does assume that the user already knows about HTML, Web page building and other Web scripting languages like JavaScript, so the novice may find it difficult.