originally: http://www.oclc.org/research/projects/mswitch/default.htm
The Metadata Switch is an umbrella activity for a set of projects which are constructing experimental modular services that add value to metadata. A partial listing of such services includes:
We will also be testing how to expose this functionality as 'web services', modular web-based machine-to-machine applications which can be combined in various ways.
Examples of potential Web-based Metadata Switch services | |
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A service that accepts: | ...and then returns: |
1. a record in one schema (say, Dublin Core) | the record in another schema (say, MARC) |
2. a document or web page | a classification number or subject heading |
3. a class number | an indication of whether it is valid or not |
4. a name | a list of candidate name matches from an authority file |
5. a name | a cluster of names which appear to be the same person, pulled from other databases |
6. a record | the record enriched with data from other records for the same item |
7. a class number or subject heading from one schema | a mapping in another schema |
When we look at the 'metadata landscape' we see several new directions.
So for example, it would not be unusual
We are also seeing a growing interest in harvesting metadata, pulling metadata from different repositories, fusing it and turning it around in 'union' services. The mechanics of harvesting are becoming routine and well understood, and this is now introducing the interesting challenge of effectively fusing metadata so that a useful retrieval experience can be offered.
This metadata will often not have been created within a framework of consistent practice; approaches to subjects or names will be different for example. The question we have asked ourselves is what type of services would be valuable to libraries in this increasingly diverse environment.
The Metadata Switch project is a response to this question. We want to try to make sure that the accumulated expertise and value invested in libraries' metadata management and knowledge organization approaches is deployable across the range of need.
Some of the factors influencing this approach are:
In parallel with technical development, work will be done on testing and developing market demand, and on potential business models, for such services, beginning with an invitational conference of expert practitioners.
To learn more about Web services, see: