Case studies on digitization and metadata creation and management

Abstract

This thesis’ initial aim is to study the life-cycle of metadata from its creation, its development and management and the role they play during digitization processes. Three memory institutions and their respective digitization projects are studied in order to know how they carry out the digital object production process, what is the life-cycle of metadata, by who, how and when are generated and to know what is the best way to generate and implement metadata in digitization projects. The research method is based on a qualitative approach and the research strategy is based in case studies. Data were collected with different techniques: documentation, questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. These questionnaires were sent to 3 key informants (one person for each institution) and subsequently interviews to the same informants were made in order to get deeper and more concrete information. The collected data suggest that most institutions do not have explicit guidelines but follow leading organizations’ standards. Because of the use of standards no institution had to cope with interoperability problems. Also in the opinion of respondents digitizing and creating metadata is not a remarkable challenge, they perceive it as another process among others. Considering the problems or challenges the informants stated to have, the emphasis can be put on budget. That is probably the aspect that most influences on the result, the institution with no budget limitations is the one that best and more complete metadata generates. Also budget has appeared to be a problem for preservation, and the institution with lower budget availability had to delegate the custody and management of its preservation copies to another institution.