Metadata for your datasets

[Tim Bergsma]

Karen,

Although the metadata for our site has a 'local' flavor, it was
explicitly designed for compatibility with Ecological Metadata Language,
an emerging standard.  Your inquiry is timely:  EML 2.O is currently
available for public comment as a release candidate.  Final release
expected within a few weeks.

EML is schema-based.  Although it was conceived as a standard for
sharing metadata in the field of ecology, its generic structure renders
it suitable for deployment in a variety of other scientific fields.  I
think you would find excellent compatibility with biomedical research.

You can learn more about EML by following the links at
http://knb.ecoinformatics.org, or download the schemas from
http://knb.ecoinformatics.org/software/download.html#eml.  If you're
interested, I can provide further comment on how our site uses
relational databases to generate EML and/or web content dynamically.

Best regards,

Tim.

(P.S. I've copied this to a small mail list of EML developers, in case
one of them wants to add something.)
---------------------------------------------------
Karen Harker wrote:

I am a Web Developer Librarian at UT Southwestern Medical Center Library
in Dallas.  I am investigating the potential of cataloging datasets for
a group of
 researchers here on campus (biomedical research involving animal models
and microarrays).  One aspect for which I am having difficulty finding
information
 is describing datasets, particularly biological.  
  
 Regarding your collection of datasets, did you develop your own
metadata or did you use a standard?  
  
 In what form is the metadata (DTD, schema, database, etc.)?  
  
 Would you be willing and able to share this model?
  
 Thank you very much for your assistance.
  
  
 Karen R. Harker, MLS
 UT Southwestern Medical Library
 5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
 Dallas, TX  75390-9049
 214-648-1698
 http://www.swmed.edu/library/


-- 
Tim Bergsma, Ph.D.
LTER Information Manager
W.K. Kellogg Biological Station
Michigan State University
Hickory Corners, MI   49060
616/671-2337
tbergsma at kbs.msu.edu
http://lter.kbs.msu.edu