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Preservation Procedure Policy: Metadata: Structural metadata |
Related Guidance Policy
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Metadata |
| Definition/ Description |
Structural metadata can be defined as metadata required to describe the internal structure and the component relationships of a digital object.
Structural metadata contains information on how the digital object has been created, e.g. metadata collected when digitizing a book. The organisation should document relevant information about the ‘containers’ of the files in the structural metadata and decide what information is to be preserved and if a formal standard is to be used in preserving this type of metadata, for example: use of the METS standard. |
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| Why |
Structural metadata is important to be able to render the digital object authentically in the future.
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| Risks |
Correctly rendering of the digital object may be lost if structural metadata is missing.
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| Life cycle stage |
Description & Representation Information, Preservation Planning, Create or Receive, Ingest, Preservation Action, Transform
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| Stakeholder |
Management: defines metadata policies and the use of standards
Technology Manager: responsible for ensuring the proper systems for rendering the metadata and the digital material
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| Cross Reference |
Bit Preservation
Functional Preservation
Access
Authenticity
Standards
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| Examples |
State and University Library, Denmark: “... and monitors the international development in metadata standards including descriptive, administrative (including technical) and structural metadata.” Source:, http://en.statsbiblioteket.dk/about-the-library/dpstrategy
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| Control Policy |
- Information on structure should be included
- The METS files SHOULD be able to be validated
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| Questions to foster discussions |
- Has the organisation decided on a metadata schema for structural metadata?
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