Services in support of:

Digital collections |  Metadata collections  |  E-publishing initiatives

Metadata collections are those resources that are comprised of metadata only, such as bibliographic databases, abstracting and indexing databases, finding aids, directories, and other reference materials. Metadata collections are often databases used to gain access to physical items. If the items themselves become digitized, a metadata collection may evolve into a digital collection (such as a database with electronic full text).

Depending on the nature of the material, DLS provides these services in support of
metadata collections:

• Data modeling - assisting with the development of the database record structure and associated data definitions and rules in consultation with ISST
  Metadata schema - identifying appropriate standards and best practices, developing metadata crosswalks, and creating mechanisms to expose metadata for harvesting where appropriate
• Data migration - developing strategies to manipulate data, for example to convert from a legacy database format to a current standard
• Hosting - in collaboration with ISST and ITS, hosting the metadata collection on a database management system (DBMS) for end-user search and retrieval
• User interface - assisting with the development of a custom -proprietary- interface as well as enabling access through a more general -unified- interface for collections mounted on the Iowa Digital Library
• Open standards - providing support for standards such as OpenURL and evolving metasearch standards

Contact: lib-digital@uiowa.edu