The Concept of Metadata for Digital Information Resources with Special Reference to Dublin Core (DC)

This chapter defines metadata, their types, creation, and some of the important functions. It enumerates an overview of the basic elements of the Dublin Core Metadata standard, and other metadata standards are also mentioned. The problem has been studied based on the information available in the open literature. As electronic information resources are rising and digital library initiatives are gaining wide acceptance, knowledge of metadata formats will help our library professionals in adapting their skills in cataloguing, classification, subject heading, key wording, and indexing for better inventory and exhaustive usage of electronic information. Metadata serves three general purposes. It supports resource discovery and locates the actual digital resource by inclusion of a digital identifier. As the number of electronic resources grows, metadata is used to create aggregate sites, bringing similar resources together and distinguishing dissimilar resources. The World Wide Web has created a revolution in the accessibility of digital information resources. Metadata is key to ensuring that resources will survive and continue to be accessible into the future. It can be embedded in a digital object or it can be stored separately like library catalogues. The Dublin Core (DC) is the most popular and widely accepted standard proposed to describe almost all categories of networked electronic resources.