The Curse of Metadata
Abstract
EDITOR'S SUMMARY More meaningful than font, placement and format of printed documents, metadata in the digital world delivers opportunity that was unknown in the 1990s. Shifting from the print world to the internet, Creekmore learned the potential value of metadata. But effective use requires clarifying goals, applying metadata strategically and purposefully, and standardizing metadata practices to manage document classification. Common pitfalls among those who appreciate what metadata can offer are designing content management systems with too many or too few metadata options. To avoid excessive or insufficient metadata, information architects must fully understand users' needs, differentiating daily requirements from occasional ones. Building a simple metadata schema for current use is ideal; focusing on unlimited future possibilities or building an elaborate but unwieldy system is unrealistic.