Storytelling in an automated environment: Using metadata analysis to develop curated guides to a digital image collection

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to report the results of a project incorporating metadata analysis for the creation of curated guides to a digital library of historic photographic images.

Design/methodology/approach

The general format and scope of the curated guides was determined by members of the project team. Automated processing was developed to analyze subject terms in metadata of digital images submitted to the digital library collection. The results of the metadata processing were used to narrow the themes of the curated guides, and to help create canned searches that would expose representative collection content. The curated guides were created and made available to users of the digital image collection.

Findings

Processing and analyzing metadata can be a useful tool in the creation of digital library collection guides. However, the usefulness of this method is highly dependent upon consistency and accuracy of the source metadata records.

Practical implications

Creators of digital library collections are shown a method of using existing resources to create collection guides. The value of metadata demonstrated by this application may affect considerations of the cost of metadata creation.

Originality/value

This activity discussed in this paper addresses an established need among digital library practitioners – the need to provide users with guided access to the content of their collections. The method discussed for creating curated guides is repeatable, and could be improved in further applications.

Citation

Brenner, A.L. and Mihalega, A.M. (2006), "Storytelling in an automated environment: Using metadata analysis to develop curated guides to a digital image collection", OCLC Systems & Services: International digital library perspectives, Vol. 22 No. 2, pp. 122-131. https://doi.org/10.1108/10650750610664012