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Shapes

Thu, 24 Jan 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Following a landmark workshop on RDF validation in 2013, two languages have emerged for describing the "shape" of graph structures for the purpose of validating RDF data. The Shape Expressions Language (ShEx) and Shapes Constraint Language (SHACL) provide languages for expressing constraints against which graphs of RDF triples can be compared. These languages support the expression of a Dublin Core™ application profile in a manner that can directly be used for validating metadata based on the profile.

Concept Scheme

Thu, 24 Jan 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Concept Scheme is basically a synonym for Ontology, though concept schemes are most commonly associated with Simple Knowledge Organization System (SKOS), a data model for knowledge organization systems that was designed for maximum semantic simplicity.

Vocabulary

Wed, 23 Jan 2019 00:00:00 +0000

In Semantic Web usage, Vocabulary is a near-synonym for Ontology though "trend is to use the word ontology for more complex, and possibly quite formal collection of terms, whereas vocabulary is used when such strict formalism is not necessarily used or only in a very loose sense." Whatever else they might be called, DCMI Metadata Terms, the AGROVOC concept scheme, and the Bibliographic Ontology (BIBO) are also vocabularies.

Competency Index

Wed, 23 Jan 2019 00:00:00 +0000

A Competency Index is a set of topically arranged assertions of the knowledge, skills, and habits of mind required for professional practice in a given area of practice. DCMI's Linked Data Competency Index, for example, provides an overview, or map, of the Linked Data field both for independent learners who want to learn Linked Data methods and technology, and for professors or trainers who want to design and teach courses on the subject.

Metadata Basics

Sat, 15 Dec 2018 00:00:00 +0000

A brief introduction to DCMI by Tom Baker as presented at the DCMI Virtual 2021 conference, 4 October 2021 (YouTube).

Membership of DCMI

Fri, 15 Dec 2017 00:00:00 +0000

Why Become a DCMI Member?

DCMI Members support the work of DCMI, participate in its governance, and receive benefits such as discounts for events, and visibility. DCMI is an organization committed to the development and open availability of resources that support a healthy global metadata ecosystem. Annual membership dues by DCMI members play a significant role in ensuring that DCMI continues to advance this commitment to support innovation in metadata design and best practice. Regional Members and Institutional Members help shape DCMI by bringing their institutional perspectives to the work agenda of the Initiative through active participation on the Governing Board and by supporting the efforts of an international community of volunteer metadata experts. Supporting Members (private-sector companies and foundations) support DCMI and enjoy membership benefits without formal duties related to governance.

Vocabulary Encoding Scheme

Sun, 12 Aug 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Vocabulary Encoding Scheme (VES) is a DCMI-specific synonym for the identifier of a SKOS Concept Scheme. Starting with the Dublin Core™ Qualifiers specification of 2000, DCMI coined VES URIs as a way to indicate the source of string values from published controlled vocabularies such as the Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH). For example, the string value Textile design--China--History could be marked as coming from LCSH by tagging it with the DCMI-coined VES URI http://purl.org/dc/terms/LCSH. With the widespread conversion of controlled vocabularies such as LCSH into SKOS after 2009, the Vocabulary Encoding Scheme has become less relevant as a type of metadata term.

Syntax Encoding Scheme

Sun, 12 Aug 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Syntax Encoding Scheme is a DCMI-specific synonym for RDF Datatype. An RDF Datatype indicates that a given literal represents a resource of a given type, such as a Gregorian calendar date, Boolean value, integer, or natural-language character string. Datatypes are identified by URI and associated with literals using RDF syntax.

DCMI Metadata Terms

Sun, 12 Aug 2012 00:00:00 +0000

The Properties, Classes, Vocabulary Encoding Schemes, and Datatypes declared and maintained by the Dublin Core™ Metadata Initiative are collectively referred to as DCMI Metadata Terms. Property, Class, and Datatype (aka Syntax Encoding Scheme) are defined exactly as in RDF, while a Vocabulary Encoding Scheme is equivalent to the identifier for a SKOS Concept Scheme.

Ontology

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 00:00:00 +0000

An ontology, according to one famous definition from 1992, is the "specification of a conceptualization" - an abstract, simplified view of the world represented for purposes ranging from knowledge sharing to decision-making. While ontologies are commonly assumed to be semantically complex, with rich sets of relationships between its concepts and axioms designed to support sophisticated inferencing, there is no inherent limit to how simple an ontology may be. Indeed, the key ontologies of the Finto, the Finnish thesaurus and ontology service, are actually SKOS concept schemes, and the Dublin Core™ vocabulary itself is sometimes referred to as an ontology.

Dublin Core

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 00:00:00 +0000

"The Dublin Core™", also known as the Dublin Core™ Metadata Element Set, is a set of fifteen "core" elements (properties) for describing resources. This fifteen-element Dublin Core™ has been formally standardized as ISO 15836, ANSI/NISO Z39.85, and IETF RFC 5013. The core properties are part of a larger set of DCMI Metadata Terms. "Dublin Core™" is also used as an adjective for Dublin Core™ metadata, a style of metadata that draws on multiple RDF vocabularies, packaged and constrained in Dublin Core™ application profiles.