CIESIN Metadata Guidelines for World Wide Web Sites

Records describing World Wide Web sites utilize only two sections of the CIESIN Metadata Guidelines: Identification Information and Metadata Reference. The following presents a list of mandatory metadata elements from these sections, and guidelines for interpreting and applying these elements to records describing web sites. Additional elements may be used if appropriate for the person or organization being described, or to meet specific project requirements.

Mandatory Metadata Elements

I. Identification Information

• Data Resource Citation:

  Title
  Originator
  Publication Date
  Publication Information
          Publication Place
          Publisher

• Description:

  Abstract
  Language(s)

• Keywords:

  Theme Keyword(s)
  Place Keyword(s)
  General Keyword(s)
  Specialized Project Keyword(s)

• Point of Contact
• Related Reference(s)

II. Metadata Reference

• Metadata Status:

  Filename
  Metadata Status Code
  Metadata Contract Code
  Metadata Review Date
  Metadata Future Review Date
  

• Metadata Contact
• Metadata Access and Use:

  Metadata Access Constraints
  Metadata Use Constraints

• Metadata Source Reference(s)

Guidelines for Applying Metadata Elements

I. IDENTIFICATION INFORMATION

Data Resource Citation

Title:

For web sites the chief source of title information is the HTML source code header . (To locate this information: while in the home page of the web site you are describing, go to the top menu, click on 'view', and click on 'document source'. This will give you an HTML coded version of the web site.) If the information is not adequate title information (i.e. it's an abbreviation or an acronym), the second choice for title information is the first screen of the home page. This is always a second choice. The title must be transcribed exactly as it appears on the item.

Originator:

The name of the person or corporate entity (organization, institution, corporation, or department) that created or developed the web site. Use the full name of the organization. If an acronym exists, place it in parentheses after the name of the organization.

Originator may require contact information. Guidelines and examples for applying the metadata sub-elements for Originator are contained in Section 10 (Contact Information ) of the Metadata Guidelines.

Note: The Originator element is designed to be part of a formal citation; to provide appropriate credit for the creation, development, and/or authorship of a particular resource. Such credit need not include specific contact information (such as email, phone, or postal address). Specific contact details should be included only with the consent of the individual(s) or organization(s) being listed.

Publication Date

Follow the Metadata Guidelines.

Publication Place

Follow the Metadata Guidelines.

Publisher

Follow the Metadata Guidelines.

Data Presentation Form

Follow the Metadata Guidelines; select "online" for web sites.

Online Linkage

Follow the Metadata Guidelines.

Other Citation Details

Follow the Metadata Guidelines.

Description

Abstract

The abstract for a web site should very briefly describe the site itself - the subject range, how it is organized, the nature of the information and data resources it identifies and/or makes available. Include the full title of the web site in the first sentence of the abstract.

Language(s)

The language(s) in which the web site is presented.

Keywords

Follow the Metadata Guidelines for:

Theme Keyword(s)
Theme Keyword Thesaurus
Place Keyword(s)
Place Keyword Thesaurus
General Keyword(s) (optional but useful)
Specialized Project Keyword(s)

Point of Contact

The person or corporate entity (organization, institution, corporation, or department) responsible for maintaining the web site and responding to questions regarding access to the site itself or to resources included in that site. Follow the Metadata Guidelines.

Related Reference

Follow the Metadata Guidelines.

II. METADATA REFERENCE