Definition
Metadata are structured information about an information resource that describes, explains, locates, or otherwise makes it easier to retrieve, use, or manage that resource. Metadata are most commonly used in libraries as a formal scheme of resource description, providing information about an object, whether it is digital or non-digital.
Further Resources
Ball A, Chen S, Greenberg J, Perez C, Jeffery K, & Koskela R. (2014). Building a Disciplinary Metadata Standards Directory. International Journal of Digital Curation, 9(1). doi.org/10.2218/ijdc.v9i1.308
Chao T. (2015). Mapping Methods Metadata for Research Data. International Journal of Digital Curation, 10(1). doi.org/10.2218/ijdc.v10i1.347
Day M. Metadata. In: Ross S, Day M, editors. Digital Curation Manual. HATII; 2005.
Greenberg J. (2010). Metadata for Scientific Data: Historical Considerations, Current Practices, and Prospects. Journal of Library Metadata, 10(2/3):75-78. dx.doi.org/10.1080/19386389.2010.520262
Greenberg J, White H, Carrier C, Scherle R. (2009). A Metadata Best Practice for a Scientific Data Repository. Journal of Library Metadata, 9:194-212. dx.doi.org/10.1080/19386380903405090
Khayat M, & Kempler SJ. (2015). Life Cycle Management Considerations of Remotely Sensed Geospatial Data and Documentation for Long Term Preservation. Journal of Map & Geography Libraries: Advances in Geospatial Information, Collections & Archives2, 11(3), 271–288. dx.doi.org/10.1080/15420353.2015.1072122
Kolker E, Özdemir V, Martens L, Hancock W, Anderson G, Anderson N, … Yandl G. (2014). Toward more transparent and reproducible omics studies through a common metadata checklist and data publications. Omics : A Journal of Integrative Biology, 18(1), 10–4. doi.org/10.1089/omi.2013.0149. Available from:
Kothari CR, Ro P. (2015). A Metadata based Knowledge Discovery Methodology for Seeding Translational Research, 299(2), 2115. doi.org/10.3233/978-1-61499-564-7-1071
Losee RM. (2013). Informational Facts and the Metainformation Inherent in IFacts: The Soul of Data Sciences. Journal of Library Metadata, 13(1), 59–74. doi.org/10.1080/19386389.2013.778732
Moulaison HL, Dykas F, & Gallant K. (2015). OpenDOAR Repositories and Metadata Practices. D-Lib Magazine, 21(3/4). doi.org/10.1045/march2015-moulaison
Musen MA, Bean CA, Cheung K-H, Dumontier M, Durante KA, Gevaert O, … Wiser JA. (2015). The center for expanded data annotation and retrieval. Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association : JAMIA, ocv048. doi.org/10.1093/jamia/ocv048
Musgrave S. (2014). Improving Access to Recorded Language Data. D-Lib Magazine, 20(1/2). doi.org/10.1045/january2014-musgrave
Nakasone S, Sheffield C. (2013). Descriptive Metadata for Field Books: Methods and Practices of the Field Book Project. D-Lib Magazine, 19(11/12). doi.org/10.1045/november2013-nakasone
National Information Standards Organization. Understanding Metadata. Bethesda, MD: NISO Press; 2004.
Read K. (2015). Common Metadata Elements for Cataloging Biomedical Datasets. Figshare. doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.1496573
Vardigan M, Donakowski D, Heus P, Ionescu S, & Rotondo J. (2014). Creating Rich, Structured Metadata: Lessons Learned in the Metadata Portal Project. IASSIST Quarterly, 38(3), 15–20.
Vellino A. (2015). Harmonizing the Metadata Among Diverse Climate Change Datasets. International Journal of Digital Curation, 10(1). doi.org/10.2218/ijdc.v10i1.367
Vines TH, Andrew R L, Bock DG, Franklin MT, Gilbert KJ, et al. (2013). Mandated data archiving greatly improves access to research data. FASEB Journal, 27(4):1304-1308.
White H. (2010). Considering Personal Organization: Metadata Practices of Scientists. Journal of Library Metadata, 10(2/3). dx.doi.org/10.1080/19386389.2010.506396
Zimmerman A. (2007). Not by metadata alone: The use of diverse forms of knowledge to locate data for reuse. International Journal on Digital Libraries, 7(1-2):5-16.