Personal Digital Information Project, Part 2: Hands-on Exercise

Transcription

1 Drexel University From the SelectedWorks of James Gross May 14, 2012 Personal Digital Information Project, Part 2: Hands-on Exercise James Gross, Drexel University Available at:

2 Personal Digital Information Project, Part 2: Hands-On Exercise (Option 1) James Gross Drexel University, INFO756 Professor Matienzo 5/14/2012

3 Option 1. For this exercise I created a descriptive metadata record for my chosen collection as well as three intellectual objects within the collection. I created a record for each item using the DataCite schema. In this short paper I will briefly discuss (1) whether the metadata created will allow users to locate and get an overview of my collection, (2) if the amount of information recorded is sufficient to identify the information in a digital preservation system, and (3) additional information which I think should be added to the metadata records. I will also note whether these results differed from, or confirmed, my assessment from the Part 1 exercise. Metadata results: For this assignment, I chose three file types (.DOC,.PDF, and.jpg) from my e-portfolio collection. In the Part 1 exercise, I listed two sections of collection data, (e-portfolio and organizational), but in order to provide sufficient file variety, I chose to use the files from the e-portfolio collection. I created metadata (see charts A-D), for all of my objects, using the five required meta-tags (identifier, creator, title, publisher, publication year), based on the DataCite scheme. In addition, five additional optional tags were added. Per the assignment instructions, the Related identifier tag (DOI) was also included. Question #1: Did my metadata provide an adequate overview? In my opinion, the metadata which I created would, depending on its content and the search criteria, enable potential users to: [A] discover the file and get an [B] adequate overview of the contents of my collection and objects. [A.] File discovery: In this exercise, I utilized metadata from the DataCite schema. This schema was primarily designed to assist the user in locating a file or collection. Some of the important tags which were included in my metadata included: the related identifier (location) tag, the title tag, and the creator tag.

4 In my opinion, the DataCite schema, with its usage of key metadata fields or categories, appeared to be well designed to facilitate file retrieval based on user search queries. The object of the DataCite schema is to primarily provide dataset citation and discovery (Starr, 2009, n.p.). Choice of meta-tags: In the exercise, I did not use all of the meta-tags from the DataCite schema. The DataCite schema has required and optional tags. In the DataCite schema, there are 5 mandatory tags and 12 optional tags for a total of 17 tags (DataCite, 2011, pp.17-18). My metadata included a unique persistent identifier and several identifying elements (creator, title, publisher, publication year). Descriptive metadata information: This is more subjective. In general, users who seek out information often rely on accurate metadata descriptive language. The significant properties of content, context, appearance, structure, and behavior can often be reflected through metadata (Giaretta, et. al., 2009, p.68). I used the 5 mandatory DataCite tags, and 5 optional tags. I chose those optional tags which would provide descriptive information and assist the user in locating the files. [B] Adequate overview: Would users would be able to obtain an adequate overview of the contents of my collection and its objects? In my opinion, this is a subjective question. While the DataCite schema can accommodate an overview of a record or file, this level of information may not be sufficient for all users. Digital curators may wish to use another schema if they wish to provide users with additional information on the file. This conclusion differs from Part 1 as I had predicted that my records would be encoded down to the file level. [Question 2] In my opinion, the amount of information which I recorded would probably be sufficient for a person to locate and identify my file or collection within a digital preservation system.

5 The DataCite schema draws its strength from it s primarily function: to help locate and identify a file. It accomplishes this through the use of the DOI tag. The Digital Object Identifier tag ensures that an object is always located properly, even if its location changes (JISC, 2012, n. p.). This means that a researcher can remain confident that a citation will always refer to the original object (JISC, 2012, n. p.). In Part 1 of this exercise I identified each file s location via a URL link. It was my understanding that the URL link would be sufficient for file location and retrieval. But, through this exercise, I learned about the usage of the DataCite permanent digital identifier tag. This resolved an issue which I raised in Part 1, which was the potential for a bad link if one s host website shut down. The DataCite schema solved this issue with the use of the DOI element. In my opinion, accurate metadata encoding will help in record location. The usage of the DataCite persistent identifier, and the required 5 metadata elements (creator, title, publisher, publication year), would improve one s ability to locate the files in a digital preservation system. The file content could be enhanced with the inclusion of metadata tags which denote subject and keywords. In terms of identifying the file based on its metadata information, it would largely depend on the content of the file s metadata information, as well as the methodology of the file search. For example, based on an OCLC research project, Schaffer found that while structured metadata can be useful for collection management, it is not always what users need to discover primary sources (Schaffer, 2009, p.4). According to Schaffer, several user studies found that the subject field, included in my metadata, was the primary search method by researchers (Schaffer, 2009, p.6). [Question 3] Additional information to record? Per the DataCite schema, there are twelve optional tags which can be used (DataCite, 2010, p.6). Per the assignment instructions, my tag usage was limited to five additional elements, including the isrelatedto tag. The selected objects from my digital

6 collection included an html, a jpg, a pdf, and a doc file. I chose to use the optional meta-tags: subject, language, resource type, format, and description. I also included the optional isrelatedto tag. If I had the option, I would have also included the metadata tags file version and date type (for copyright). I modified the.jpg but that information does not appear in the metadata. Chart E contains a list entitled Data Citation Adequacy Index. The list identifies the following tags: accession date, series, and accession number as missing from the DataCite scheme. It is apparent that these meta-tags could be utilized to further identify collections. Summary: It is apparent to me that (1) the use of the DataCite schema, with pertinent metadata, would enable users to locate and get an overview of my collection, and (2) that the amount of information recorded would be sufficient to identify the information in a digital preservation system. This exercise has allowed me to better understand the benefits of having a permanent DOI as opposed to using a URL that could eventually become defunct. Part 2 of this exercise enabled me to delineate and identify specific data elements from each file. Namely, I was able to add identifiers. The strength within the DataCite schema is that it provides identifiers for long-term dataset location. I now understand the value in assigning a permanent DOI to a file or collection.

7 Charts Collection title: e-portfolio of James Gross location: Chart A File Source: (Gross, 2011a). Property and sample values: (DataCite, 2011, p. 17). (Key: blue required, orange optional) ID Property (DataCite properties) Value (DataCite schema) Value (what data should appear) 1 Identifier (DOI) /foo /FK2 2 Creator Smith, Jane Gross, James 3 Title National institute for Environmental Studies and e-portfolio of James Gross Center for Climate System 4 publisher World Data Center Gross, James for Climate 5 Publication Yr Contributor Earth sciences and geology Gross, James 9 language Eng eng 10 Resource type Animation text 12 Related identifier Doi: /FK2CZ353S ispartof doi: /fk2p55q54 13 size 285kb, 100 pages 3.63 mb 17 description The current xml-example for a DataCite record is the official e-portfolio of James Gross

8 example from the documentation DOI for collection: File #1: PDF file DOI url: Source: (Gross, 2009). Property and sample values: (DataCite, 2011, p. 17). Chart B, (Key: blue required, orange optional) ID Property Sample Value (DataCite schema) Value (what data should appear) 1 Identifier (DOI) /foo /FK2 2 creator Smith, Jane Gross, James 3 Title National institute for Environmental Studies and Future of the Public Library, An IPL Survey Center for Climate System 4 publisher World Data Center Gross, James

9 for Climate 5 Publication Yr subject Earth sciences and geology Public libraries--united States, Libraries and the Internet--United States, Internet Public Library, 9 language Eng Eng 10 Resource type Animation Text 12 Related identifier Doi: /FK2CZ353S ispartof doi: /fk2mc91n5 13 Size 285kb, 100 pages 101kb,20 pages 14 format Text/plain PDF 17 description The current xml-example for a DataCite record is the official example from the documentation Info650, report on the future of the public library, Internet Public Library survey, File #1, DOI identifier:

10 File#2 (.JPG) Image url: DOI url: Source: (Gross, 2011b), Property and sample values: (DataCite, 2011, p 17). Chart C (Key: blue required, orange optional) ID Property Sample Values (DataCite schema) Value (what data should appear) 1 Identifier (DOI) /foo /FK2 2 creator Smith, Jane Gross, james 3 title National institute for Reading room small Environmental Studies and Center for Climate System 4 publisher World Data Center for Gross, James Climate 5 Publication Yr subject Earth sciences and geology Reading rooms United States, Public libraries United States 10 Resource type Animation Image/animation 12 Related identifier Doi: /FK2CZ353S ispartof doi: /fk23f4r98 13 size 285kb, 100 pages 25.7 kb 14 format Text/plain JPG 17 description The current xml-example Image of a library reading room. for a DataCite record is the

11 official example from the documentation File #2, DOI identifier: File 3: file:.doc file url: DOI url: Source: (Gross, 2011c). Property and sample values: (DataCite, 2011, p 17). Chart D: (Key: blue required, orange optional) ID Property Sample Value (DataCite schema) Value (what data should appear) 1 Identifier (DOI) /foo /FK2 2 Creator Smith, Jane Gross, James

12 3 Title National institute for Environmental Studies and Center for Climate System 4 Publisher World Data Center for Drexel's Library Learning Terrace: Collection Development Policy Gross, James Climate 5 Publication Year Subject Earth sciences and geology Libraries, collection development, universities & colleges, United States Pennsylvania-- Philadelphia 9 Language eng eng 10 Resource type Animation Text 12 Related identifier Doi: /FK2CZ353S ispartof doi: /fk2zp47r3 13 Size 285kb, 100 pages 303 kb, 20 pages 14 Format Text/plain DOC 17 description Information on item INFO665, Drexel's Library Learning Terrace: Collection Development Policy. File 3, DOI identifier:

13 Chart E Data Citation Adequacy Index (DCAI) Source: (Mooney, 2011). Building data citations for discovery, [Power-point presentation]. DataCite (2011) OECD (2009) Altman & King (2007) Sieber & Trumbo (1995) Dodd (1979) ANSI/NISO Z39.29 (2005) ISO Mooney & Newton (2011) Author x x x X x x x 2 Title x x x X x x x 2 Date x x x X x x x 2 Publisher x x X x x x 2 Location X x x x Funder X x Material designator x x x X x x x 1 Notes X x Edition x x x URL x x x x x 2 DOI (persistent ID) x x x x x 1 Accessed date x x x Parent/series x x x

14 Study/Accession number Drexel honesty statement:

15 References: DataCite (2011). DataCite Metadata Schema for the Publication and Citation of Research Data, Retrieved from: Giaretta, D. et.al. (2009). Significant Properties, Authenticity, Provenance, Representation Information and OAIS, ipress, 6th International Conference on Preservation of Digital Objects, San Francisco: California Digital Library, pp Available from: Gross, J. H. (2009). Future of the public library, An IPL survey. Retrieved 5/10/2012 from: Gross, J. H. (2011a). e-portfolio of James Gross. Data set retrieved 5/10/2012 from: Gross, J.H. (2011b). Reading room small image, data set retrieved from: url: Gross, J. H. (2011c). Drexel's Library Learning Terrace: Collection Development Policy. Retrieved 5/10/2012 from:

16 JISC (2012). Webinar: Data Identifiers - How to ensure your data is properly cited, retrieved 5/14/2012 from: Metadata Working Group, (2010). Guidelines for handling image metadata, Version 2.0, Metadata Working Group, retrieved 5/12/2012 from: Mooney, H. (2011). Building data citations for discovery, [Power-point presentation], DataCite.org website. Retrieved 5/9/2012 from: Schaffner, J., & OCLC. (2009). The metadata is the interface: Better description for better discovery of archives and special collections : synthesized from user studies. Dublin, Ohio: OCLC Programs and Research. Retrieved 5/12/2012 from: Starr, J. & Gastl, A. (2011). iscitedby: A metadata scheme for DataCite. D-Lib Magazine, 17, (1-2), retrieved 5/13/2012 from: