Metadata for Information Management and Retrieval

Citation

Barker, P. (2005), "Metadata for Information Management and Retrieval", Online Information Review, Vol. 29 No. 1, pp. 116-117. https://doi.org/10.1108/14684520510584007

Metadata is a “sort of” linguistic notation that allows the properties and characteristics of data and information to be described in very precise ways. It allows the inter‐operation of information systems, improves retrieval performance and provides mechanisms for managing information resources. This book provides a “gentle”, non‐technical introduction to metadata concepts and then goes on to describe recent progress in metadata standards and applications. The content of this text is aimed at information professionals and managers charged with the management of information resources.

The book is organised into three sections. The first of these contains three chapters. Together, these provide an overview and introduction; definitions of metadata; and an outline of some of the more important standards (such as MARC, the Dublin Core, the IEEE Learning Objects Metadata standard, MPEG and JPEG) and data models (for example, RDF, FRBR and OAIS). Within this first section of the book, the author also introduces a “five‐point” model that forms the foundation for the material that is discussed within the five chapters that make up the second part of the book. The five‐point model is based on the five main purposes that metadata fulfils (as defined in Chapter 1 of the book).

As was mentioned above, the second part of the book deals with the author's five‐point model of metadata. This is by far the largest of the three sections. A chapter is devoted to each of the five main purposes that metadata fulfils. These uses include:

1. 1.

   resource description (identifiers and descriptive elements in metadata schemas and their use);

2. 2.

   information retrieval (the semantic web, topic maps, subject retrieval, language control and indexing);

3. 3.

   management of information (in various applications ranging from records management to content management, intranets and library management systems);

4. 4.

   rights management, ownership and authenticity of data (including legal admissibility and security of data); and

5. 5.

   interoperability and e‐commerce (important issues here include the organisational role of metadata and government initiatives to promote interoperability in the public sector).

The final part of the book consists of two chapters. The first of these deals with various techniques for managing metadata (such as crosswalks, registries and schemas – mention is also made of administrative metadata and security issues). The second of the two chapters in this section explores some of the future possibilities for further developing and using metadata concepts. Important topics covered in this chapter include the need to develop a “universal model of metadata”, making its use transparent to users and its use as a tool for “making systems and applications work effectively”. This latter requirement will really only be realised through the effective embodiment of metadata principles within pragmatic environments (such as XML) – and the promises that such an approach offers for the efficient interoperability of widely different systems and applications.

Overall, I thought this book was quite well‐written in a style that makes it pleasant and easy to read. It is fairly comprehensive with respect to the topics it includes and each of these is discussed at an appropriate level and depth for the book's intended readership. There are ample references given at the end of each of the chapters to enable readers to follow up any individual issues that are of particular interest to them. I shall certainly order a copy of this book for my university library.