The DOI initiative: metadata implications Version 3: February 1999
8 International DOI Foundation. All rights reserved. 1999 10
discovery. Equally, we want to minimise the size of the DOI core set and the work needed to
compile it (reducing unnecessary duplication). So we want the input which creates the kernel to
be done once, in a well-defined way (“do it once, do it right”), which does not reflect a specific
function but allows multiple functions. This can be done by designing the kernel metadata to
reflect the inherent structure of entities and metadata, rather than their function in any one context
or application [Rust]. Since the only available point of quality control for this is at the point of
allocation, there is a strong argument that the kernel DOI metadata must be either centrally
registered or registered via a pointer to a validated and authorised source of metadata.
4.2 Conformance with existing or developing standards
4.2.1 Standards for set of elements: the use of INDECS
There have been many efforts to establish metadata structures for particular communities;
examples include MARC records for libraries [USMARC], Federal Geographic Data Committee
for geospatial data [FGDC], Consortium for the Computer Interchange of Museum Information
[CIMI] etc. These provide a tool for those communities, but in the absence of a common data
model, interoperability between these Asilo@ applications is very limited and requires the
construction of specific bi-lateral Acrosswalks@ (mapping transformations between the unrelated
data models of each silo), with increasing complexity as the number of silos grows [StPierre]. In
a digital environment, this approach is no longer satisfactory as an infinite number of permutations
can easily be assembled (and need to be): an author of a scientific article, for example, may well
wish to insert a video clip, an animation, and a 3-dimensional structure model into his paper and
this must be readily accessible without the need to stop and define a specific Acrosswalk@ to link
the video clip metadata to the text metadata; the links must be automated and immediately usable.
One attempt to overcome this problem began by assuming that a common requirement for
interoperable metadata would be resource discovery, and has gained significant momentum and
recognition: the Dublin Core [DublinCore] initiative has now defined a core set of metadata for
the single functional purpose of resource description: a 15-element metadata element set intended
to facilitate discovery of electronic resources. There are significant problems with the DC
Asimple@ core set which limit interoperability (e.g. [Baker]) but recent consensus discussions
between of the Dublin Core, DOI, INDECS, and bibliographic standards communities (Oct 30/31
1998) have provided a way forward. It now appear that a set of elements capable of interoperable
use will be defined by this large community and receive widespread support [Bearman].
This offers for the first time the possibility of an activity which combines the widespread
community participation of the Dublin Core with the well-formed structured approach of
INDECS and others (e.g. IFLA, CIS). The DOI community is poised to be able to take
advantage of this. If this happens, the support of the DOI added to the existing participants
would give an overwhelming momentum to such a standard and its likelihood of adoption and
success. A stated aim of INDECS is to take its conclusions and proposed structures through the
relevant standardisation processes with the aim of these becoming formal recommendations.