# /programs/ourwork/renovating/changingmetadata/attributes.htm

originally: http://www.oclc.org/programs/ourwork/renovating/changingmetadata/attributes.htm

# Gather Evidence to Inform Changes Needed in Metadata Practices The work of OCLC Research staff in determining the extent to which unique records in WorldCat represent "last copies" rather than "unique cataloging" and data mining WorldCat for the FictionFinder and WorldCat Identities prototypes have uncovered categories of content variations. These variations impair the ability to match records representing the same title (manifestation) as well as the ability to aggregate titles representing the same work. The ability to present users with an overview of available works from thousands of possible manifestations depends on having reliable bibliographic data elements present. The Program for Cooperative Cataloging (PCC) has established "core record standards" that represent what the community judges are the optimal set of attributes required for libraries to support discovery, retrieval, and inventory management. Yet even these required attributes may be missing or, if present, incorrectly encoded. There is no evidence available yet of what data elements are truly critical for users searching in a Web networked environment. The data elements required to provide users access to published works in a Web 2.0 context may be lacking. This project synthesizes the work already done and conducts new research to provide evidence to inform changes in metadata practices that could lead both to better user access to the collective collection and to streamlining metadata creation practices. Among the questions we will seek answers to: What data elements match up to the terms most used in users' searching for bibliographic information in the networked Web environment? What content variations in data elements in WorldCat records are most responsible for incorrect matching of titles or not matching titles for the same manifestation? What data elements are so seldom used, by bibliographic format, that they could be dropped without impairing access? A working group of RLG Programs partners is reviewing the preliminary report to assess which recommendations would have the most impact on their own operations. |
For more information Karen Smith-Yoshimura Program Officer smithyok@oclc.org