Metadata explained simply

The proliferation of digital content in business settings has turned many people into unlikely data managers, looking for the best way to organize assets such as images, graphics, videos and documents. Without the assistance of a librarian or professional digital asset manager, the less technical are unable to apply data management principles and metadata functionality to organize and leverage their increasingly large volumes of digital information.

Metadata simplified

This is precisely why we’ve produced our latest educational series, “Metadata for mere mortals.” We’ll be creating a set of brief webinars, available on-demand, for people without advanced library and information science degrees. People who lack training in metadata standards and the more technical aspects of digital asset management, yet who find themselves in a position of responsibility for cataloging and organizing digital content.

Metadata webinars on-demand

In our first video, metadata librarian Erin Antognoli provides an introduction to basic metadata concepts. Viewers will learn about the types of metadata and the kinds of information they convey. Erin also covers where metadata creation falls in the data life cycle and explains the FAIR principle for metadata schemes that ensure a piece of content or information will be discoverable. This helpful overview will help product managers, content managers, digital marketing managers and others get started on their metadata journey.

Throughout the series, we’ll cover best practices, such as how to balance the usability of metadata information with efficiency and productivity when assigning it. We’ll also provide guidance when it comes to evaluating digital collections and deciding on the metadata that will be relevant and useful to stakeholders.

Future metadata topics will include:

• Controlled vocabularies
• Metadata-linked data
• Choosing metadata standards
• Role of metadata in a world of full-text search

But don’t worry—“Metadata for mere mortals” won’t get too technical, staying focused on adding clarity to data management as a means to ensuring that users can find what they are looking for and that collections of digital files are transformed into valuable information assets.

We invite you to join us on this metadata journey, and as you embark, remember that we’re always here to help. Whether you need a librarian or archivist permanently or on-call, or simply some guidance around organizing and preserving content, LAC Group has the resources you need.