The metadata elements that it is proposed should be included in the LAWI Metadata Scheme are as follows:
Element Name Mandatory/Optional Definition Comment
Title Mandatory A name given to the web page (Endnote 10). Typically, this would be the title name. “Simple” Dublin Core
Author Mandatory The name of the person or organisation responsible for the creation of the content of the web page. “Author” is in more common usage than “Creator”, the label it is given in “Simple” Dublin Core
Subject Mandatory The topic of the content of the web page. “Subject” is in more common usage than “Keywords”
Description Mandatory An explanation of the web page content. It is more detailed than that given by “Subject” alone. It might be in the form of an abstract, table of contents or free-text narrative. “Simple” Dublin Core
Publisher Mandatory The person or organisation responsible for making the web page available. “Simple” Dublin Core
Contributor Optional The name of a person or organisation responsible for a major contribution to the creation of the content of the web page. “Simple” Dublin Core
Date.Created
Date.Modified Mandatory A date associated with a particular event in the life cycle of the web page i.e. the date on which it was first created and the date on which it was last modified. “Simple” Dublin Core has a single element “Date” which represents either Date.Created (if no change has been made to the resource) or Date.Modified (the date when the last change to the resource was made). It is proposed that both elements should be adopted to make this distinction explicit (Endnote 11).
Resource Type Optional The nature of the primary content of the web page. Typically this will be either text or image. “Simple” Dublin Core – the shortened version “Type” adopted by other metadata schemes is potentially ambiguous
Format Optional The physical or digital characteristics of the web page. Typically this will be “HTML”. “Simple” Dublin Core
Resource Identifier Mandatory A unique identifier for the web page. Typically, this will be the URL e.g. www.justask.org.uk. “Simple” Dublin Core
Source Optional A reference to a resource from which the web page is wholly or partly derived. For example, this may be another web page or a book. “Simple” Dublin Core
Language Mandatory A language in which the content of the web page is written. “Simple” Dublin Core
Relation Optional A reference to a resource with which the resource is associated (Endnote 12). “Simple” Dublin Core
Coverage Mandatory The geographical scope of the content of the web page. Typically this will be at the level of a country. “Simple” Dublin Core – the complexities that are supported by metadata schemes such as the NGDF are not required in the Legal and Advice Sectors
Rights Management Optional Details of any rights held in or on the web page. These may include Copyright and Intellectual Property Rights. “Simple” Dublin Core
Question 3: Do you agree that the LAMS Metadata Scheme should conform closely to “Simple” Dublin Core?
Question 4: Do you agree with the proposed modifications of “Simple” Dublin Core to meet the needs of the Legal and Advice Sectors?
Why Content Classification is Required
3.2.1 A metadata scheme has little or no value without one or more content classification schemes (and associated thesauri) to support it. The “Simple” Dublin Core metadata element “Subject” is the clearest example of this. The owner and user of a website must be confident that they have a common vocabulary in which to carry out searches. If a user searches for information on “Social Security” but is unaware that the website owner has used the terms “Benefits” and “Welfare” (or the owner has not provided a thesaurus to give cross-references) then the needs of neither the user nor the owner of the website are satisfied.
3.2.2 A content classification scheme does not preclude the use of free-text searching but it does remove much of the ambiguity associated with it provided that a thesaurus is available. For example, in the absence of a content classification scheme and thesaurus a free-text search using the word “drugs” might locate web pages covering any one of Healthcare, Law Enforcement, Research & Development, “Alternative” Lifestyles or Sport.
3.3 Proposal for Content Classification
3.3.1 It is proposed that one or more content classification schemes will be required to support the proposal for a metadata scheme. At a minimum, there will be a content classification scheme for the metadata element equivalent to the Dublin Core metadata element, Subject. A thesaurus will be required to support the content classification scheme.
Content Classification Schemes – Context
3.13.1 The most important step in the process of defining a content classification scheme is to specify the context in which the content classification scheme exists. This is because a content classification scheme that has been designed for one context has limited relevance to a different context.
3.13.2 The context of the content classification scheme will be “members of the public in England and Wales who need to find relevant information across the whole of the Legal and Advice Sectors, which enables them to resolve or make progress towards the resolution of problems related to those sectors”.
3.13.3 None of the examples of content classification schemes listed here are a good match for the required context. This is because they are primarily designed for the “professional” user and not for members of the public.
3.14 Proposal for Content Classification
3.14.1 It is proposed that the CLS should commission its own content classification scheme with a supporting thesaurus for the “Subject” metadata element. As well as meeting the specific needs of the CLS, such a scheme should be of benefit to other organisations in the Legal and Advice Sectors. The benefit will be derived from the development of a content classification scheme specifically designed for members of the public. It is further proposed that the CLS should adopt appropriate ISO standards for metadata elements other than Subject where necessary.
3.14.2 The essential characteristics of the proposed content classification scheme are:
It should complement existing schemes within the Legal and Advice Sectors. It would do this by taking those existing schemes as a starting point and by providing cross-references to them via a thesaurus;
It should focus on the needs of members of the public who as citizens need access to the information provided by the Legal and Advice Sectors. This will build on the research already carried out about how members of the public use the Just Ask! website and what they expect from it;
It should be developed by an independent expert. This person will carry out a broad consultation of interested parties within the Legal and Advice Sectors;
It should be subject to an appropriate consultation process;
It should be tested before implementation. The content classification scheme will be tested with members of the public to ensure that it is usable and understandable and enables them to gain access to the information they need.
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