TechEssence.info

A commenter on TechEssence recently wondered "...if knowing about metadata would make me a better librarian even if I'm neither a cataloger nor a repository rat." I'd vehemently argue that the answer is YES.

I believe that learning about metadata isn't about learning specific rules for specific cases, but rather learning new ways of thinking about problems. Different metadata standards provide different ways of describing resources, documenting relationships between resources or parts of resources, and documenting information about resources necessary to manage them over time. Learning a new metadata standard doesn't mean you start using that standard for every task, to the exclusion of all others. Rather, it expands your toolbox, allowing you to choose different metadata standards for different purposes. With such a toolbox at your disposal, you can focus on the why, thinking about how your choices affect search functionality, shareability, and future re-use of the data.

A bit of metadata training for your staff can go a long way towards ensuring your library remains focused on its goals, and uses the appropriate tools to reach those goals. Understanding your options frees you from simply repeating the same methodology over and over without a clear sense of how well that methodology matches what you are trying to achieve. Metadata expertise is one key part of the knowledge necessary for your team to step back and make an informed choice about a robust, sustainable way to achieve your library's goals.