[Metadatalibrarians] Metadata standard(s) for visual materials

[Ryan Lee]

Hi all,

Please excuse the lengthy e-mail.

I am looking for a metadata standard for describing visual materials, aside from art and artifacts and video.  When I say "visual materials", I am including the following:

Photographs
Posters
Broadsides
Charts
Certificates
Postcards
Architectural drawings
Maps
Slides/Transparencies
Microfilm strips (that show pictures, text, captions, etc.)

I am wondering if there is a good standard that could include all or most of these.  I know there is one just for Architectural Drawings and several just for maps, but I am trying to find one that sort of captures these types in one standard, if possible.

To give you some background as to why I am asking this question:  We are in the process of creating an integrated catalog that will hopefully be able to integrate with several disciplines, including our library, archive, and museum, and other entities in our corporation that hold information assets.  To do this, instead of cataloging based on the repository or department, we are trying to see if we can't catalog the asset based on whatever "type" it is, since to types of assets in each repository often overlap.  

We are trying to consolidate all the different types into about 7 general groups, choose a standard that would best describe each group, then map these standards to find commonalities.  These commonalities, along with other elements will require on a local leve, will then become what we call our "core" metadata for the Integrated Catalog.  External metadata beyond the core will stil be captured, but it will not reside in the Integrated Catalog, so we can keep the amount of stuff in there at a minimum so as to not clog up the search engine.  It's still in the conceptual stage, but this is where we are headed.

Along with the question of standards for visual materials (which I am struggling to find on my own, hence the query), I am curious what any in this group thinks about our approach to this integrated catalog from a metadata standpoint.  Any comments or suggestions?  Due to my lack of experience (just 2 months in the job), I really feel like I am just grasping at straws and want to bounce this off those with more experience.

Feel free to contact me offline for information about our project.

Thank you,

Ryan Lee

Ryan K. Lee
Metadata Specialist
LDS Church History Dept.
50 E. North Temple Rm. 289E
Salt Lake City, UT 84150-3420
(801) 240-2173
LeeRK at ldschurch.org

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