Metadata
Preservation metadata address a broad range of information that encompasses the entirety of an object's lifecycle.
- Metadata bind the individual files of a digital object into a coherent whole.
- Metadata describe the technical context in which the object may be viewed.
- Metadata describe the chain of custody of the object up to the present moment.
- Metadata describe which parties are allowed to view the object and which parties are allowed to modify the digital object.
Therefore, policies concerning metadata should be carefully developed from the initial selection of the standards to the selection of systems and formats capable of supporting the identified metadata standards.
Ensure that each digital object in the collection is assigned a persistent identifier with an eye to ensuring that the persistent identifier mechanism is viable beyond the institution.
- Select an identification scheme based on existing organizational systems and global schemes
- Assign each object an identifier
Recommended web links
Preservation metadata, Cornell University Library. Fundamentals and Management of preservation metadata.
Preservation Metadata for Digital Objects: A Review of the State of the Art (PDF format): An overview of existing preservation metadata approaches by OCLC/RLG including a comparison between OAIS, NEDLIB, National Library of Australia and Cedars standards. Useful in that elements from each standard are listed (along with the Harvard University standard).
Contact information for this web page
This resource was published by the Canadian Heritage Information Network (CHIN). For comments or questions regarding this content, please contact CHIN directly. To find other online resources for museum professionals, visit the CHIN homepage or the Museology and conservation topic page on Canada.ca.
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