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Metadata Metamorphosis

This presentation explores the critical role of metadata in improving website functionality and searchability. Metadata, defined as descriptive structured data about data, helps connect digital resources and enhances both public and internal access. We discuss the benefits of implementing metadata for better content organization, management, and dynamic navigation. The findings from our search engine testing indicate that methods like Dublin Core contribute to improved relevancy in search results. We conclude with recommendations for websites of all sizes on the effective use of metadata.

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Metadata Metamorphosis

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  1. Metadata Metamorphosis The evolution of a website (or is it?!) Gillian Byrne Dianne Cmor Information Services, QEII Library Memorial University

  2. What is Metadata? • Descriptive, structured data about data • Defined by communities • Digital resource connection • Public uses (access) and non-public uses (management)

  3. Why Metadata on Websites? Improved searching • Internal • External Content management • Content organization (author, date) • Content groupings (subject, audience)

  4. Why Metadata on Websites? Future Possibilities • More-like-this links • Context sensitive navigation/relations • Dynamic streaming

  5. Dublin Core • Universal, general metadata set • Ease, simplicity, flexibility, interoperability (more than just MARC), extensibility (growth and local needs) • 15 elements – optional and repeatable • Potential for cross-domain discovery

  6. Content Management Systems • Off-the-shelf systems do it all: • Authoring, describing, collaborating, workflow, security, scheduling, templating, personalization • Scalability • Separation of content and design • Memorial Libraries’ CMS specific to our needs

  7. Memorial Libraries’ CMS • Web-based interface • File management (add, delete, move) • Metadata management • Ownership and timelines (who, when) • Descriptive fields (title, subject, keywords) • “Extra” fields (show contributor, printer friendly)

  8. Memorial Libraries’ CMS Show and Tell! • File management • Metadata management • Those little extras

  9. Metadata and Search Engines Internal Searching • Criteria for selecting an internal search utility: • Metadata enabled • Cost • Search features • Control over installation and indexing • Selected 3 engines for testing: Inktomi, ht://Dig and Webinator

  10. Search Engine Testing Testing Methodology • Selected 10 pages from the new site • Created 5 versions of each page • Version 1: text of the page with no metadata • Version 2: metadata terms into the header of the page as text • Version 3: metadata terms in the coding with <meta> tags (using the keyword field) • Version 4: metadata terms in the coding using Dublin Core • Version 5: Removed the text of the page and placed the metadata terms in the coding with <meta> tags

  11. Search Engine Testing • Selected search terms for each set – search terms had to be present both in the metadata and the text. • For each of the 5 searches: • Compared the page ranking in the three engines to see which one consistently ranked version 3 or version 4 highest. • Also looking for version 5 over version 2

  12. Search Testing - Results Test Page: Borrowing (www.library.mun.ca/borrowing/information.php) Term Searched: intercampus

  13. Search Testing - Conclusions • Inktomi fared the best • Consistently ranked version 3 over all other versions • Did better at ranking version 5 over version 2 than Webinator & ht://Dig • None of the search engines read the Dublin Core metadata

  14. Our Search Engine Show and Tell! • Better relevancy for poor searchers • More flexibility in search terms • Better access to buried pages • Administrative features

  15. External Search Engines • <Meta> tags • Majority of search engines do not index <meta> tags because of spam implications • Inktomi web engine the major exception (Inktomi powers Lycos/HotBot, MSN, Overture and was just purchased by Yahoo) • Dublin Core • No major commercial engine recognises Dublin Core metadata • Fertile testing field?

  16. Evolution? Or not? Depends on needs, resources, crystal balls Benefits • Who/when information • Improved internal searching • Automatic site index • Future possibilities Drawbacks • Initial work • More work for content providers

  17. Evolution? Or not? Suggestions • Small sites • why not? manageable enough • easier to begin when small • more benefits in future? • Large sites • don’t do extensive metadata for improved searching ONLY - top level pages are enough • look for site management as well

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