WDL Descriptive Metadata Element Set
A standard set of metadata elements must be used to describe all WDL digital objects. “Digital object” refers to any primary source or other item selected for inclusion as an artifact on the WDL. A standard set of metadata elements will enhance discovery, improve display, simplify maintenance, allow the return of search results within categories, and facilitate access to topics and other browse options across the site. It will also help the WDL team speed up processing and simplify maintenance, and help the translators improve the quality of translations
Metadata records in MARC, MODS, or the Dublin Core format are preferred. Records in UNIMARC are also accepted. After partners send metadata records to the WDL, those records are mapped to the set of fields below.
Please do not send metadata in Word documents. If you do not have existing metadata records in any of the formats mentioned above, please work with the WDL team to establish the best way of transferring existing metadata.
WDL Element Name |
Description |
Title |
Title of the resource. |
Description |
Summary of the content of the resource. Describe why the item is significant. Note features of historical interest. Example: “A Summary View of the Rights of British America” was the fiery pamphlet that Thomas Jefferson wrote as a 31-year old member of the Virginia House of Burgesses that established his reputation as a forceful champion of American rights and led to his being asked, two years later, to draft the American Declaration of Independence. This version of the Summary View is Thomas Jefferson’s personal copy. In it, Jefferson proudly inscribed his name as author on the title page, and made edits in the text to strengthen his argument. |
Creator |
An entity associated with the creation of the resource. |
Publisher |
An entity responsible for making the resource available. |
Place of publication |
Place of publication. |
Date Created |
A point or period of time associated with the creation of the item. This can be a specific date, a year, or a range of years. |
Language |
The native language of the resource. |
Place |
The geographic subject of the resource. Enter the country, state/province (if available), city (if available). Example: |
Time |
The temporal subject of the resource. This can be a specific year or a range of years. |
Topic |
Dewey Decimal Classification. Provide a three-digit Dewey number for the resource. |
Type of Item |
Book, manuscript, map, print/photograph, sound recording, motion picture, etc. |
Additional Subjects (Controlled and Uncontrolled) |
Terms from controlled vocabularies (e.g., LCSH) and uncontrolled vocabularies used to describe the resource. |
Notes |
Additional information about the resource. |
Physical Description |
The physical description of the resource (e.g., number of pages, size). |
Collection Title |
If resource belongs to a collection, provide the collection title. |
Institution |
Institution that contributed the resource. |
Related Web Site |
If the resource exists online at holding institution, provide the URL. |
