Collection types

The Digital Library for Earth System Education (DLESE) provides access to a wide range of materials and hence supports several different collection types. The kinds of materials to be shared with DLESE determines the collection type(s) and the corresponding metadata framework(s). The different frameworks are designed to accommodate the information necessary to describe and discover different types of materials. Consult the table below to determine an appropriate DLESE collection type and DLESE metadata format.

The role of metadata

DLESE does not hold resources in its collections but provides access to resources by aggregating, organizing and disseminating information about them through discovery and delivery systems. This information is called metadata or "data about data." Well-structured metadata integrated with an efficient discovery system promotes targeted searching, browsing and use of resources. Once a resource is “found” in the library, metadata is the information about the resource that is returned to a user. It is also the information that is exchanged with other libraries. Technically, DLESE metadata is kept in the form of structured digital records in the eXtensible Markup Language (XML). . For further discussion about metadata issues, see the DLESE metadata homepage.

Contribute a collection

Please read contribute a collection.

Last updated: 2005-12-19
Maintained by: Katy Ginger (support@dlese.org), DLESE Metadata

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