The Metadata Object Description Schema
(MODS)NISO Metadata Workshop
May 20, 2004
Rebecca Guenther
Network Development and MARC Standards Office
Library of Congress
What is MODS? Metadata Object Description Schema Descriptive metadata standard (not for
document markup) Initiative of Network Development and MARC
Standards Office at LC Uses XML Schema Originally designed for library applications, but
may be used for others A derivative of MARC
Why MODS? XML (Extensible Markup Language) is the
markup for the Web Investigating XML as a new more flexible syntax
for MARC element set Need for rich descriptive metadata in XML but
simpler than full MARC, especially for complex digital library objects
Potential Uses of MODS
As a rich (but not too rich) XML metadata format for emerging initiatives Z39.50 Next Generation specified format extension schema to METS to represent metadata for harvesting (OAI) As an interoperable core for convergence
between MARC and non-MARC XML descriptions
For original resource description in XML syntax using language based tags
Advantages of MODS
Element set is richer than Dublin Core Hierarchy allows for rich description,
especially of complex digital objects Element set is compatible with existing
descriptions in large library databases Rich description that works well with
hierarchical METS objects
Features of MODS Uses language-based tags Elements generally inherit semantics of MARC Elements particularly applicable to digital
resources MODS does not assume the use of any specific
rules for description Element descriptions are reused throughout the
schema Use of XML schema allows for flexibility and
availability of freely available tools
MODS high-level elements
Title Info Name Type of resource Genre Origin Info Language Physical description Abstract Table of contents Target audience
Note Subject Classification Related item Identifier Location Access conditions Extension Record Info
Status of MODS Open listserv collaboration of self-selected possible
implementors, LC coordinated (1st half 2002) First comment and use period: June – December
2002 Version 2.0 Feb. 2003-Dec. 2003 MODS version 3.0 now available Version 3.0 includes corrections and citation
information for journal article Registration submitted to NISO, now being balloted Coming: a MODS for authorities called MADS
LC uses of MODS Describing electronic resources
AV project, web archiving Incorporation with XML resources
METS projects for digital resources (e.g. IHAS, Blackmun)
OAI collections LC offers MODS, MARCXML, DC simple
Further use planned for lightweight descriptions for Web resources
MINERVA at LC MINERVA: LC’s web archiving project (based on
specific themes) Exploring issues with born digital resources MODS used for descriptive metadata Election 2002 Web archive
Collaboration with Internet Archive, Webarchivist.org Selective collection of archived sites July-Nov. 2002 MODS records for each site
Other collections: 9/11, 107th Congress Plan to use METS and develop profile for Web sites for
107th
Metadata done in-house, more controlled
Fields used in Minerva project
Title Name (structured
form) Abstract Date captured Genre (value always
“Web site”)
Physical description (file formats)
Identifier (base URL) Language Access
conditions/rights management
Subject (keyword or LCSH if possible)
Sample MODS record for Election 2002
Fran Ulmer web site record (XML)
MODS projects AV Prototype Project (Library of Congress)
Digital preservation for audio and video Uses METS and MODS with focus on metadata
University of California press Using METS with MODS for freely available
ebooks California Digital Library
Digitization of archival materials Other METS projects as descMD section MusicAustralia
MODS as exchange format between National Library of Australia and ScreenSoundAustralia
Bibliographic citations
Additions to MODS 3.0 to allow for output of bibliographic citations Parsed elements to generate OpenURL Stylesheet to output citation in particular
citation format<part>
<detail><extent><date><text>
Differences between MODS and Dublin Core
MODS has structure Names Publication information (originInfo) Related item Subject
MODS is more compatible with library data Semantics Conversions Relationships between elements
Includes record management (administrative metadata) information
Choosing MODS for descriptive metadata
MODS is particularly useful for compatibility with existing bibliographic data embedded descriptions in relatedItem Rich, hierarchical descriptions that work well
with METS structural map “out of the box” schema; can use
<extension> for local elements and to bring in external elements from other schemas
Conclusions•MODS was developed as a rich descriptive metadata standard that works well with other XML standards/initiatives•Provides a descriptive metadata standard intermediate in richness between Dublin Core and MARC 21 (or other specialized descriptive metadata standard)•Although a derivative of MARC, MODS has wide potential application as a rich descriptive metadata standard for various needs•XML tools allow for easy transformations (made available by LC)
For further information
http://www.loc.gov/standards/mods