# Presentation: 173226

- Rich descriptive metadata in XML: MODS as a metadata scheme
- “MODS, MARC and Metadata Interoperability”
- ALA Annual 2005

- Rebecca Guenther
- Network Development and MARC Standards Office
- Library of Congress

## Overview of presentation

- MARC and XML
- MODS introduction
- Uses
- Features
- Advantages
- MODS relationship to other metadata schemes
- MODS Projects

## MARC and XML

- Importance of descriptive metadata in current environment
- Large investments in MARC systems
- Retooling to make use of the flexibility of XML
- Libraries may receive records using other metadata schemes in XML
- Descriptive metadata may come as part of digital objects
- Collaborative use of metadata for access
- OAI harvesting
- Z39.50 and SRU/SRW

## Evolution of MARC 21 

- Need to take advantage of XML
- Establish standard MARC 21 in an XML structure
- Take advantage of freely available XML tools
- Need simpler (but compatible) alternatives
- Development of MODS
- Need interoperability with different schemas
- Assemble coordinated set of tools
- Need continuity with current data
- Provide flexible transition options

## MARC 21 evolution to XML

## MARC 21 in XML – MARCXML

- MARCXML record
- XML exact equivalent of MARC (2709) record
- Lossless/roundtrip conversion to/from MARC 21 record
- Simple flexible XML schema, no need to change when MARC 21 changes
- Presentations using XML stylesheets
- LC provides converters (open source)
- http://www.loc.gov/standards/marcxml

## What is MODS?

- Metadata Object Description Schema
- Descriptive metadata standard
- Initiative of Network Development and MARC Standards Office at LC
- Uses XML Schema language
- Originally designed for library applications, but may be used for others
- A derivative of MARC

## Potential Uses of MODS

- As a rich (but not too rich) XML metadata format for emerging initiatives
- SRU/SRW: search and retrieval XML format
- METS
- to represent metadata for harvesting (OAI)
- As a core element set for convergence between MARC and non-MARC XML descriptions
- For original resource description in XML syntax that is simpler than full MARC

## Advantages of MODS

- Element set is compatible with existing descriptions in large library databases
- Element set is richer than Dublin Core but simpler than full MARC
- Language tags are more user-friendly than MARC numeric tags
- Hierarchy allows for rich description, especially of complex digital objects
- Rich description that works well with hierarchical METS objects

## Features of MODS

- Uses language-based tags
- Elements share definitions with equivalents in  MARC
- Particularly applicable to digital resources
- MODS does not assume the use of any specific rules for description
- Element descriptions are reused throughout the schema
- Some repackaging of redundant elements
- Use of XML schema allows for flexibility and availability of freely available tools

## MODS high-level elements

- Title Info
- Name
- Type of resource
- Genre
- Origin Info
- Language
- Physical description
- Abstract
- Table of contents
- Target audience

- Note
- Subject
- Classification
- Related item
- Identifier
- Location
- Access conditions
- Extension
- Record Info

## Status of MODS

- Open listserv collaboration of possible implementors, LC coordinated (1st half 2002)
- First comment and use period: June – December 2002
- Version 2.0 Feb. 2003-Dec. 2003
- MODS version 3.0 has been stable for over a year; about to issue 3.1
- Registration approved by National Information Standards Organization (NISO)
- Recently issued companion for authority metadata (MADS)

## Relationship to other descriptive schemas?

- Compatible with MARC
- General purpose: not tied to particular type of material
- Other descriptive metadata schemes:
- DC (general resource discovery)
- EAD (archival; finding aids)
- ONIX (publishers)
- VRA Core (visual resources)
- CSGDM (geospatial)
- TEI header (marked up text)

## Differences between MODS and Dublin Core

- MODS has structure
- Names
- Publication information (originInfo)
- Related item
- Subject
- MODS is more compatible with library data
- Semantics
- Conversions
- Relationships between elements
- Includes record management (administrative metadata) information

## MARCXML vs. MODS

- Music record in MARC
-     http://catalog.loc.gov/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?v4=1&DB=local&CMD=010a+85753651&CNT=10+records+per+page
- Music record in MARCXML
-     http://www.loc.gov/standards/mods/music-marcxml-record.xml
- Music record in MODS
- http://www.loc.gov/standards/mods/music-mods-record.xml

## LC uses of MODS

- Describing electronic resources
- AV project, web archiving
- Incorporation with XML resources
- METS projects for digital resources (e.g. IHAS, Blackmun)
- OAI collections
- LC offers MODS, MARCXML, DC simple
- SRU/SRW: can get records in MODS

## MINERVA at LC

- MINERVA: LC’s web archiving project (based on specific themes)
- Exploring issues with born digital resources
- MODS used for descriptive metadata
- Election 2002 Web archive
- Collaboration with Internet Archive, Webarchivist.org
- Selective collection of archived sites July-Nov. 2002
- MODS records for each site (multiple captures)
- Other collections: 9/11, 107th Congress, War in Iraq, Election 2004

## Fields used in Minerva project

- Title
- Name (structured form)
- Abstract
- Date captured
- Genre (value always “Web site”)

- Physical description (file formats)
- Identifier (base URL)
- Language
- Access conditions/rights management
- Subject

## Slide 19

## Slide 20

## Election 2002 Web Archive

- MODS record in XML
- Archived site

## 107th Congress collection

- Metadata and search page done at LC
- 107th Congress Collection search page
- 107th Congress Collection browse
- Record display

## Iraq War Web Archives

- Catalogers input form
- Air Force Times record in XML

## I Hear America Singing

- Creating METS objects
- Use of Fedora digital repository software
- MODS used for descriptive metadata
- Display derived from METS/MODS objects
- I Hear America Singing
- http://www.loc.gov/ihas

## Slide 25

## Slide 26

## Slide 27

## MODS in IHAS 

- MODS XML record
- METS document with MODS embedded

## A few other MODS projects

- MusicAustralia
- MODS as exchange format between National Library of Australia and ScreenSoundAustralia
- Allows for consistency with MARC data
- http://www.musicaustralia.org/
- Many METS based projects
- Chopin Early Editions (University of Chicago Library)

## Directions for MODS

- Digital library projects
- MODS works well with METS
- Allows for description at any hierarchical level
- Flexibility of schema may provide richer linking capability than MARC
- LC use
- Experiment with MODS for large collections of Web sites
- Collection level record with link to MODS individual records
- Exploring MODS tools for input and searching
- Exploring integrating access with other records
- Make available via Open Archives Initiative Protocol

## Choosing MODS for descriptive metadata

- MODS is particularly useful for
- compatibility with existing bibliographic data
- embedded descriptions in relatedItem
- Rich, hierarchical descriptions that work well with METS structural map
- “out of the box” schema; can use <extension> for local elements and to bring in external elements from other schemas

- For further information

- _[http://www.loc.gov/standards/mods](http://www.loc.gov/standards/mods)_
- http://www.loc.gov/standards/mets
- _[http://www.loc.gov/](http://www.loc.gov/minerva)__[minerva](http://www.loc.gov/minerva)_
- http://www.loc.gov/ihas