Metadata MOOC 2-3: Dublin Core Elements

Summary

This video delves into the 15 elements of Dublin Core metadata, explaining how each can be used to describe various resources, such as books, films, or even botanical samples. Key elements include title, creator, subject, contributor, publisher, and date, each of which helps categorize resources. The video also explores the flexibility of Dublin Core, emphasizing that metadata elements can be listed in any order and that best practices, such as using controlled vocabularies, are recommended but not required. The goal is to enable metadata records for any type of networked resource.

Takeaways

• 📚 Dublin Core has 15 elements: contributor, coverage, creator, date, description, format, identifier, language, publisher, relation, rights, source, subject, title, and type.
• 📖 These elements can be included in any order when creating a metadata record.
• 🏷️ Title refers to the name given to a resource, but it doesn’t have to be a single canonical title.
• 👤 Creator refers to the entity primarily responsible for creating the resource, such as an author or artist.
• 📂 Subject refers to the topic of the resource, one of the key elements for describing information in libraries.
• 👥 Contributor refers to those who assist in the creation of the resource but are not the primary creator.
• 📅 Date can refer to various stages in the lifecycle of a resource, including creation or modification dates, and can be granular or broad.
• 🗣️ Language should ideally follow controlled vocabularies like RFC 4646 for online representation.
• 🌍 Coverage refers to the spatial or temporal relevance of the resource, often defined using controlled vocabularies.
• 📄 Format specifies the file type or medium of the resource, recommending MIME types for standardization.

Q & A

What are the 15 elements of the Dublin Core metadata set?

The 15 elements of the Dublin Core are contributor, coverage, creator, date, description, format, identifier, language, publisher, relation, rights, source, subject, title, and type.

In what order can the Dublin Core elements be presented?

Dublin Core elements can be presented in any order when creating a metadata record, though they are sometimes listed alphabetically for convenience.

What is the purpose of the 'title' element in Dublin Core?

The 'title' element refers to a name given to the resource. It is typically a title by which the resource is formally known, but it does not have to be the only title, as resources can have multiple titles.

What is the difference between 'creator' and 'contributor' in Dublin Core?

The 'creator' is the primary entity responsible for making the resource, which could be a person, organization, or service. The 'contributor' refers to secondary entities who contributed to the resource but are not its main creators.

How does the 'publisher' element differ from the 'creator' and 'contributor' elements?

The 'publisher' is responsible for making the resource available, such as a publishing house for a book or a movie studio for a film, whereas the 'creator' and 'contributor' are responsible for the content creation itself.

What type of information does the 'date' element in Dublin Core capture?

The 'date' element captures a point or period of time associated with an event in the resource’s lifecycle, such as the date of creation, modification, or deletion. It can be specific or cover a time span.

What is the recommended best practice for representing the 'language' element in Dublin Core?

The recommended best practice is to use a controlled vocabulary, such as RFC 4646, which provides standard codes for representing languages.

What does the 'format' element in Dublin Core describe?

The 'format' element describes the file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource. The recommended best practice is to use a controlled vocabulary like MIME types.

How does the 'source' element function within Dublin Core metadata?

The 'source' element refers to a related resource from which the described resource is derived, such as a parent-child relationship between an original file and its digital representation or later versions.

What is the purpose of the 'rights' element in Dublin Core?

The 'rights' element provides information about the property rights associated with the resource, including intellectual property rights such as copyright, patents, or trademarks.