This resource is intended as a guide to data entry and descriptive metadata for the University at Buffalo (UB) digital collections and is based on national standards and best practices for creating metadata, primarily the Dublin Core metadata standard. We aim to create consistent, accurate and interoperable metadata that enhances search, discovery and use of our digital collections. The intended audience for this resource is internal library staff, including content providers, curators, archivists, and digitization and metadata professionals. The list of metadata elements presented here is not comprehensive. Additional optional Dublin Core elements can be found on the Dublin Core Metadata Terms webpage. Library staff may choose to use the optional elements based on the unique characteristics of the described resource.

Direct any questions to Sarah Cogley, Digital Collections and Repositories Librarian, or Marie Elia, Archivist for Special Collections.

The By Element tab includes all elements that are required or required if known/applicable. Each element includes the following information:

– Dublin Core term name, with hyperlink to DCMI Metadata Terms webpage
– Applicable vocabulary, with hyperlink to thesauri
– Repeatability (information about entering multiple values, if applicable)
– Definition
– Input guidelines
– Examples of the element for each work type

The By Work Type area includes the same information, but organized according to work type (i.e., text, image, audio, moving image).