Report: Choosing metadata standards

In the second report of our series, “Metadata for mere mortals,” librarian Erin Antognoli examines key considerations organizations should take when choosing to employ metadata standards such as:

• The different information needs of the community of users.
• The data elements required to accurately describe the collection.
• The types of metadata standards—general subject or subject-specific standards.

Selecting the metadata standard that best reflects the content of your collection and the needs of the community that will use the data is a weighty decision. The process should involve a series of questions that helps you identify which FAIR principles are most important and leads you to a well-thought out decision on the standard.