Metadata

This section includes metadata descriptions for the dark archive and the public-facing digital library. Both data models are developed based on broadly adopted, well-documented, community supported standards. The standards have been extended where necessary. We expect that no single data model is sufficient for 

Dark archive

The dark archive will be available only to project personnel and to the staff authorized by participating organizations, such as Central State Hospital and the State Library of Virginia.

The unit of archiving is a single scan. Metadata for the archive is designed for this level of granularity. Part of the rationale for this decision is simplicity and part operational facility.

Simplicity: The relationships between various scans is difficult to ascertain without studying the scans. Scans are numbered sequentially and in some cases, some scans are more closely related to each other than others within the sequential order.

Operational facility: Scan file sizes are between 20MB and 250MB. Bundling scans into a larger grouping for archiving will result in a requirement of downloading several gigabytes at a time prior to accessing any information from the archive. Supporting granular access will enable future patrons or software to retrieve data quickly and then bundle it as needed for particular goals.

The metadata will use a hybrid, standards-based data model, with classes that cluster the metadata developed for different purposes: descriptive, administrative, technical, rights, and preservation.

Digital library

The data model for the CSH digital library will be based on standards such as the Portland Common Data Model, or PCDM. Documentation for PCDM can be found at the following URIs: