The Element Set

The Library suggests a minimum list of categories of information that you should use to describe the content of your resources as well as the nature of the digital files themselves. We recommend that you email lib-metadata-help at the start of your project. A Librarian with your area or subject expertise will be happy to work with you in setting up a process and identifying appropriate descriptive terminology.

Section 1 -- Metadata: What is it and Why is it Important? Section 2 -- Get Acquainted with the Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata (CSDGM) Section 3 -- Where Does One Begin? Section 4 -- Select the Proper Metadata Tool Section 5 -- Start Out Simple Section 6 -- Other Metadata Issues

This primer started with a discussion of the importance of metadata. This was followed by a review of the Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata. Now is the time to roll up our collective sleeves and tackle the task. This section outlines a strategy for collecting metadata at the agency or corporate level. The first step often involves getting an organizational committment to "do metadata."