Using MARC Repurposing to Initiate a Metadata Management Design

Marty KurthALA Annual ConferenceJune 27, 2005

This presentation is based on:Martin Kurth, David Ruddy, and

Nathan Rupp. "Repurposing MARC Metadata: Using Digital Project Experience to Develop a Metadata Management Design." Library Hi Tech 22:2 (2004): 153-165.

MARC repurposing is the reuse of MARC metadata in library applications other than the catalog.

These Cornell digital collections use repurposed MARC metadata . . .

Metadata processing involves

Mapping - defining relationships between metadata schemes

Transformation - moving metadata between schemes

Metadata management - coordinating metadata tasks and resources

Metadata management challenges

Workflows are not well established

Mapping and transformation work is decentralized

Documents and files reside throughout the library

Why manage MARC repurposing?

We have lots of MARC metadata

It always involves mapping and transformation

MARC mapping and transformation processes and tools are expensive

It involves redundant data, which is messy and expensive to maintain if you’re not careful

Managing mapping

HEARTH

May CollectionMARC records

MoAFirst M

ARC-to-TEI mapping

Dates?

Edition statements?

Collection-specific mappingvariations are inevitable

(Inter)national standardmapping scheme

General CULmapping scheme(consensus-based)

CUL collection scheme 1

CUL collection scheme 3

CUL collection scheme 2

A MARC mapping model

Documenting collection-specific mapping schemes promotes their reuse.

Managing transformations

SE Asia Visions

May CollectionMARC records

MoA

First MARC-to-TEI tra

nsformation

Scripted transformation

XML/XSLT transformation

Because mappings vary from collection to collection, transformation scripts vary, too!

MARC transformation approaches

Scripted transformation processesIT staff extract selected MARC fields and encode them in XML

XML/XSLT transformation processes IT staff extract entire MARC record and

convert it to MARCXML Metadata staff use XSLT to transform

MARCXML to collection-specific scheme

Why we like the XML/XSLT approach

To keep catalog extracts constant

To put transformation tools in the hands of the staff doing the mapping

To facilitate tweak-and-test transformations

Documenting decentralized transformations is critical.

Developing a metadata management design

Two aspects of metadata management

Coordinating metadata creation and manipulation work

Managing tools and files resulting from metadata processes

Keys to managing metadata resources

Approach metadata processes as a coordinated, purposeful venture

Identify the needs of internal users to access and reuse metadata tools and files

Treat metadata tools and files as data resources warranting management

Develop a metadata management design

Metadata management design strategies

Inventory metadata relationships and processes organization-wide

Identify data stewards for mapping and transformation resources

Promote sharing and reuse of metadata resources to reduce costs and risk

Use documented relationships and processes to coordinate metadata activities

MARC repurposing inventory example

MARC bibliographic metadata

Collection-specific MARC mapping

Extract script

Extract file

XML storage scheme

MARC-to-XML-storage transformation script

XML storage file

XML delivery DTD

XML storage-to-delivery transformation script

XML delivery file

Next steps

Continue to build library consensus about metadata element sets and mappings

Develop reusable transformation tools

Meet with stakeholders to discuss creating a MARC repurposing design

Extend stakeholder discussions to a library-wide metadata management design

Investigate creating a repository of metadata schemes, tools, and files