For this final project you will select two (2) information systems used in cultural heritage institutions (e.g. library catalogs, archival finding aids, museum registers -any system used in libraries, archives, museums, or digital repositories is acceptable) analyze it

For this final project you will select two (2) information systems used in cultural heritage
institutions (e.g. library catalogs, archival finding aids, museum registers -any system used in
libraries, archives, museums, or digital repositories is acceptable) analyze it, and produce a
report of your findings. The systems should use different metadata schema. This means that
you should not select two library catalogs for example.
Describe, compare, and analyze the metadata standards, elements and contents, and evaluate
the system from a user perspective. You should integrate at least 6 different sources to situate
your analysis (you may use readings from class). If you cite 1 source 6 times this is still 1
source. The following subheadings must be used in your report: Metadata Standards, Metadata
Elements, Metadata Contents, Comparison, and User Perspective. The report should be six (6)
pages maximum, and single-spaced (this does not include your bibliography and screenshots).
Use APA Citation format.
Do not get overwhelmed by the term “metadata”. Your objective is to compare and contrast two
different systems. What metadata schema or standards are used by these systems? How are
they different? How are they similar?
Discuss the elements and contents. You will conclude with a user analysis; how well did the
systems work – or not?
Essay Structure
Introduction: Provide a brief description of the industries/institutions. For example, if you are
analyzing a public library catalog, you should provide some detail about the
community/population the library serves: population, is it urban/ rural, single/ multi branch library
system etc. Conversely, if you are analyzing Smokey Dupree’s digital collection you should
share some background data about this individual and the collection where it is housed.
Metadata Standards: What schema are in use? What types of resources does the schema
typically organize? You may need to investigate standards relating to your particular community.
Metadata Elements: What are the elements included in your selected system.
Metadata Contents: What is the element describing? What kind of searchable data is there?
(e.g. Ask yourself, what does the element describe? In this case our element “Title” is a
description of a resource. The metadata contents for title is: A name given to a resource.)
Comparison: What is similar about the schema? What is different about them?
User Perspective: Try searching the systems and give your opinion on how well the systems
retrieved searches or not. Is it oriented to the everyday user or does it require specialized

knowledge to effectively manipulate? Do you see any barriers users may encounter using the
two systems?

*The sources can come from class readings AND outside readings that you locate. You just
need a minimum of 6.
Formatting Notes:
● No abstract is needed.
● The essay should be no more than six pages of single-spaced texts (this does not
include your bibliography).
● Include one screenshot of each systems’ interface. Use APA Citation format.
Class Readings:
● Olson, H. A. (2000). Difference, culture and change: The untapped potential of LCSH.
Cataloging & classification quarterly, 29(1-2), 53-71
● Adler, M. (2009). Transcending library catalogs: A comparative study of controlled terms
in Library of Congress Subject Headings and user-generated tags in LibraryThing for
transgender books. Journal of Web Librarianship, 3(4), 309-331.
● "Stigmatizing Disability: Library Classifications and the Marking and Marginalization of
Books about People with Disabilities," The Library Quarterly 87, no. 2 (April 2017): 117-
135.