Introduction to Metadata and MetaRaider: Home

Metadata is simply data about data, data associated with an object, a document, or a dataset for purposes of description, administration, technical functionality, and preservation. It describes the content, quality, condition, and other characteristics of data. Metadata has been referred to as a Love Note to the Future.

Metadata is generally standardized structured information that facilitates functions associated with data such as:

1. Organizing and managing data
2. Preserving data for the long-term
3. Ensuring that data can be indexed and discovered in a data repository
4. Retaining the context around which the data was captured or created, which is vital in facilitating comprehension and reuse of the data by other researchers

This libguide will provide you with information about metadata, metadata schemas, and the operation of the MetaRaider client for creation of your own metadata records. For additional information, or to schedule a consultation on metadata and data documentation for your research, contact Matthew McEniry, Data Management & Metadata Librarian

There are multiple types of metadata, including:

1. Descriptive metadata: Used for discovery and identification. This is the most common form of metadata. Almost all metadata you will create will fall into this category.

2. Structural: Describes the physical and/or logical structure of resources.

3. Administrative: Provides information about file type, creation date, and technical information. Most administrative metadata is already embedded in the file. It is not recommended that you add administrative metadata by hand unless you have to. 

4. Rights: Provides information about who owns the rights (intellectual property) to the resource.

5. Preservation: The information needed to preserve a resource.

Examples of everyday metadata:

• tagging photos on Facebook or Flickr
• naming Microsoft Word files
• giving a title to a Youtube video
• digital archive records