Three SGML metadata formats: TEI, EAD, and CIMI Work Package 1 of Telematics for Libraries project BIBLINK (LB 4034)

Title page Table of Contents Previous - Next RTF version SGML version

Prefatory Note

BIBLINK Work Package 1 (Study of Metadata) is intended to identify, describe, and compare current approaches to the encoding of metadata, with a view to making recommendations. Amongst the many different approaches currently in use, those based on the Standard Generalized Markup Lamguage (SGML: ISO 8879) appear to offer the widest range of features and the broadest potential for cross-sector applicability. This additional detailed study on three SGML-based formats was therefore commissioned to supplement the survey reported on in Work Package 1.

This report consists of a brief overview of each of the three schemes studied, some general discussion of the technical aspects of using SGML in a production environment, and a detailed feature by feature comparison of the three schemes with respect to a number of key attributes identified by the Biblink project. A bibliography with pointers to further reading on each of the three schemes is also provided.

Richard Light was responsible for the original draft of the report, and for the information on CIMI and EAD. Lou Burnard was responsible for final editing of the report and for the information on TEI and SGML. Thanks are due to John Perkins, Daniel Pitti, and Rachel Heery for helpful suggestions during the preparation of the report.

Next	Table of Contents