12.2 Recommendations for metadata structures

Content standards for data are typically applied in the form of more specific metadata models tailored to particular documentation or application contexts, along with accompanying rule sets. These rule sets consist of metadata element sets (field catalogues). The meaning of the elements and their relationships (semantics) are defined. They are supplemented by instructions on which elements should be used for certain information and which kind of data types or values (vocabulary) should be applied.

Data models are often implemented as technical formats (metadata schemas) for the publication, exchange, and provision of data. These format definitions allow for the encoding or tagging of data for machine processing. They may be available in various serialisations, such as XML, JSON, or RDF.

For the cultural sciences and cultural heritage collections, we recommend using the following metadata element sets and schemas:

Cross-disciplinary use

DCMI Metadata Terms (DC Terms)

Schema.org

Europeana Data Model (EDM), Definition of the Europeana Data Model v5.2.8, introduction: EDM Primer

International Image Interoperability Framework (IIIF) Presentation API

Libraries

Machine-Readable Cataloging (MARC), currently as MARC21

Metadata Encoding and Transmission Standard (METS)

Metadata Object Description Schema (MODS)

Bibliographic Framework Initiative (BIBFRAME)

Archival materials

Encoded Archival Description (EAD)

Metadata Encoding and Transmission Standard/Metadata Object Description Schema (METS/MODS)

Material and visual cultural collection objects, buildings, monuments, archaeological sites

Lightweight Information Describing Objects (LIDO), introduction: LIDO Primer

Visual Resources Association Core (VRA Core)

Linked Art

CARARE 2.0

Textual sources

Text Encoding Initiative (TEI)

printed texts: Metadata Encoding and Transmission Standard / Metadata Object Description Schema (METS/MODS)

manuscripts: TEI application profile for digitised manuscripts

Layout information: PAGE XML, Analyzed Layout and Text Object (ALTO)

Musical sources

Music Encoding Initiative (MEI)

Metadata in image files

Extensible Metadata Platform (XMP)

International Press Telecommunications Council Information Interchange Model (IPTC-IIM)

Annotations

Web Annotation Data Model

Texts: Text Encoding Initiative (TEI)

Music: Music Encoding Initiative (MEI), MusicXML

Articles in scientific journals: Journal Article Tag Suite (JATS)

Layout information: PAGE XML, Analyzed Layout and Text Object ALTO

3D

Historic Building Information Modelling (HBIM)

CARARE 2.0

Geographical data

INSPIRE Metadata Implementing Rules

Research metadata in repositories

DataCite Metadata Schema 4.6 and Datacite Best Practice Guide

Data Catalog Vocabulary (DCAT 3)

Long-term preservation

PREservation Metadata Implementation Strategies (PREMIS), introduction in German