Mixing and Mapping Metadata to Provide Integrated Access to Digital Library Collections: An Activity Report

Abstract

Reports work in progress to implement integrated access to multiple digital collections described with a variety of metadata formats. Using the emerging resource discovery and digital library management system, ENCompass, a team at Cornell University Library experimented with a new discovery system model. The model uses simple, "pidgin" metadata at the collection management level, but combines this simple layer with other metadata for describing specific resources, to enable users to both discover relevant collections and also conduct deep searches. A metadata format tailored for simplicity (Dublin Core) is used alongside other, more complex metadata formats.