Metadata for Information Management and Retrieval

Citation

McClellan, D. (2005), "Metadata for Information Management and Retrieval", Library Management, Vol. 26 No. 8/9, pp. 526-528. https://doi.org/10.1108/01435120510631846

This is a surprisingly easy‐to‐read book which can be dipped into with benefit, not necessitating a cover‐to‐cover read. Some background and practical experience in the area should assist the reader in understanding the complexity of the global connotation of metadata. Due to the advent of the internet the subject “metadata” has shown its impact with metadata being applied by all types of organisations in innovative ways, whether for e‐commerce or use by institutions such as libraries and museums.

Haynes discusses the origin of the word “metadata” and its use by a number of contemporary writers. He notes that their concentration is on function rather than definition. He concludes this section with a lengthy “definition”, not the usual “data about data”, with examples of application. Haynes does not discuss the definition given at an Australian 2003 workshop held as part of the DC‐ANZ Metadata Conference. The attendees at the opening workshop agreed that the best definition of “Metadata is structured data about data” (Dublin Core ANZ Committee, n.d.).

Ten chapters provide order to the layout of the book, together with a preface and index. The references appear at the end of each section. The preface gives an explanation of “Why this book?” the intended audience and how the book is organised. It is explained that the five chapters, chapters 4 to 8, each are representative of the purpose of metadata as defined in the first chapter. The five purposes are given as:

1. 1.

   resource description;

2. 2.

   information retrieval;

3. 3.

   management of information;

4. 4.

   rights management, ownership and authenticity; and

5. 5.

   interoperability and e‐commerce.

How to make metadata interoperable is considered in chapter 9 in the context of an “information lifecycle”. The final chapter raises the possibility of a new discipline emerging.

It is to be expected that there is some bias in content. How can one know it all when there is so much ongoing discussion and in such a dynamic environment globally? Metadata and its international influence is reinforced by the listing and discussion of standards which are an integral part of the metadata environment. There are some 20 references to the International Standard Organisation alone, for example, MPEG21 and the Multimedia Framework.

While Haynes refers to geographic information systems (GIS) in the text and it is indexed, little is said about it. There is no reference to the Australian and New Zealand Land Information Council (ANZLIC) geospatial metadata standard (guidelines, version 2 published 2001) or that of the United States Federal Geographic Data Committee. Haynes does include the Australian Government Locator Service (AGLS) metadata standard and work by the Australian National Library and their use of Dublin Core.

It is not easy to evaluate the list of references as they appear at the end of each section and many are internet addresses. There are over 140 references. I note that the latest access to a web resource is May 2004 and quite a number of the web resources have been used during the first half of 2004. A comprehensive list of references at the end of the volume would be useful both for further reading and in checking the inclusiveness of the overall listing. Jane Hunter's extensive survey of metadata research for organizing the web, published in the later half of 2003, has not been included.

This book does provide a “general overview of metadata and an understanding of the issues that affect users of information systems”, the author's aim. Metadata for Information Management and Retrieval is a good beginning for information professionals and managers, the two audiences Haynes identifies for his text.