Metadata Discussion Post 1

Reflect on the Week One readings and answer the following questions:
What definitions of metadata do the writers give? What do they have in common with each other?
The definitions of metadata were certainly varied in approach, but in content they all centered on
similar principles and ideals.
Beyond the common definition of metadata being data about data, Bonnie Swoger provided the most
succinct definition, Broadly speaking, metadata is simply a structured description of something else,
(Swoger). While broad, this definition provided a very important element, and that is that metadata is
structured. All of the various definitions described this in some way, and pointed out the importance of
structure.
Miller continued to build upon this overall definition by expanding upon what is meant by data, pointing
out that it includes different elements such as books, audio files and digital images. Further Miller
explained that, Metadata is data or information that enables people to perform certain functions in
relation to the information sources that the metadata is about. This concept of metadata as functional
was also prevalent and very important. To simply provide this information is not enough if it cannot be
put to some purpose by the people that are using it.
The most detailed description came from Karen Coyle, in her functional definition that described
metadata as, constructed, constructive, and actionable. As Coyle explains, metadata is a created
feature, and it is created with the express purpose of being able to solve a problem. Then in the end, the
metadata should be actionable or that, one can act on the metadata in a way that satisfies some
needs, (Coyle, P6).
The focus on structure and usefulness across the descriptions demonstrates that while the wording and
the approach may be different, the underlying aim is the same; that is to make information into a
functional and useful tool.
How would you define metadata in a few sentences if you had to explain it to a colleague, a fellow
student, a friend, or a family member?
The intention behind metadata, is to provide context. A single object without context is very limited in
what it can tell someone, whether that is context about its origin, information that it contains, or
information about the creator. Metadata, like context, provides meaning to a wide variety of objects,
both digital and analog.

Bibliography
Miller, Steven J. Metadata for Digital Collections: A How-to-do-it Manual. New York: Neal-Schuman
Publishers, 2011.
Swoger, Bonnie. "What Is Metadata? A Christmas Themed Exploration." Scientific American Global RSS.
December 12, 2012. Accessed September 7, 2015. http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/informationculture/what-is-metadata-a-christmas-themed-exploration/.