Metadata
According to NISO Metadata is 'structured information that describes, explains, locates, or otherwise makes it easier to retrieve, use, or manage an information resource'.
Metadata is information about information or data about data.
Metadata is a vital element of any repository and objects stored in an institutional repository are always accompanied by metadata records. Metadata supports day to day management of repository content, keeps the repository usable, and allows information about the resource to be easily shared with other systems. Metadata can be collected at various stages during the ingest of an item into the repository.
Other pages in this resource outline the purpose of metadata in the repository, explore further information about the key metadata types and metadata standards that a repository needs to comply with and give summaries of more detailed metadata standards and application profiles which are available for repository managers to use.
