Repository Metadata: Approaches and Challenges

Abstract

Many institutional repositories have pursued a mixed metadata
\nenvironment, relying on description by multiple workflows. Strategies
\nmay include metadata converted from other systems, metadata
\nelicited from the document creator or manager, and metadata created
\nby library or repository staff. Additional editing or proofing
\nmay or may not occur. The mixed environment brings challenges
\nof creation, management, and access. In this article, repository efforts
\nat three major universities are discussed. All three repositories
\nrun on the DSpace software package, and the opportunities and
\nlimitations of that system will be examined. The authors discuss
\nlocal strategies in light of current thinking on metadata creation,
\nuser behavior, and the aggregation of heterogeneous metadata. The
\ncontrasts between the mission of each repository effort will show the
\nimportance of local customization, while the experience of all three
\ninstitutions forms the basis for recommendations on strategies of
\nbenefit to a wide range of librarians and repository planners.