Neal-Schuman Publishers, Inc.

 

In this new, authoritative textbook, internationally recognized metadata experts Zeng and Qin have created a comprehensive primer for advanced undergraduate, graduate, or continuing education courses in information organization, information technology, cataloging, digital libraries, electronic archives, and, of course, metadata. Instructors seeking a text that covers the theory as well as the how-to's of application design, implementation, and evaluation will find it here. An outcome-based approach lets learners with different orientations adapt their new knowledge and skills to any domain. Examples and practice problems focus on tasks typical to all metadata application projects. Other useful features include sample problems with solutions, quizzes, hands-on tutorials, and a recommended reading list at the end of each chapter. A companion digital library on CD-ROM for instructors includes quizzes, answer keys, and additional exercises. An ideal classroom tool, this book works equally well for self-guided study. Individual modules can stand alone, for reference on an as-needed basis, when transitioning from traditional cataloging to compilations of metadata for locally created resources and websites, for example. Or you can study metadata systematically, module by module. Regardless of your approach, this book is the ideal guide to metadata for both students and working information professionals.

 The authors have created a complete package ... The book's organization of having a paper book with access via the website to all of the resources is a great reinforcement of the value of interoperability and of having resources in more than one format work together to enhance the value of the parts separately.
-- Journal of Academic Librarianship, Vol. 35, No. 1, January 2009
 
Well written and offers numerous practical suggestions for managing the metadata in digital projects and things to consider when constructing a digital library...highly readable and worth considering.
-- Portal: Libraries and the Academy
 
Very easy to dip into for reference...ideally suited as an instructional tool. Excellent overview and reference resource for the subject.
-- OLAC Newsletter, March 2009
 
Authors Zeng and Qin present a solid and well-organized text...It would be a highly useful text for any librarian or information specialist working on digital projects involving metadata...This book works well as a course textbook or as a reference manual for individual topics...a worthwhile addition to a metadata collection and would be best suited for academic or special libraries and archives.
-- American Reference Books Annual, August 2008
 
Easy to read...a valuable tool for both learners and teachers as well as for young professionals.
-- Subject Center for Information and Computer Sciences
 
An excellent foundation for advanced class instruction...metadata practitioners with appropriate experience will find this book a very good source for reference, review, and for expanding their knowledge.
-- Library Resources and Technical Services, April 2009
 
Sufficiently thorough to serve as as ready reference for those working on a digital library project...A very useful work.
-- Australian Academic and Research Libraries, December 2008
 
Certainly a useful addition to the shelves of students and researchers in the digital library field.
-- ARIADNE
 
Books to Check Out
-- Computers in Libraries, September 2008
 

Marcia Lei Zeng is Professor of Library and Information Science at Kent State
University. She holds a PhD from the School of Information Sciences at the University
of Pittsburgh and an MA from Wuhan University in China. Her major
research interests include knowledge organization systems (taxonomy, thesaurus,
ontology, etc.), metadata and markup languages, database quality control,
multilingual and multiculture information processing, and digital libraries
for cultural objects and learning objects. Her scholarly publications include
more than 60 papers and three books, as well as many national and international
conference presentations. She was invited to give lectures and workshops
in various countries. She was the Principal Investigator (PI) and Co-PI of two
National Science Foundation (NSF) National Science Digital Library (NSDL)
projects. She has chaired and served on standards committees and working
groups for the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions
(IFLA), Special Libraries Association (SLA), American Society for Information
Science and Technology (ASIST), U.S. National Information Standards Organization
(NISO), and International Organization for Standardization (ISO). Her
profile can be found at Journal of Internet Cataloging, 7, no. 2 (2006).

Jian Qin is Associate Professor at the School of Information Studies, Syracuse
University. Her research interest areas include knowledge modeling and organization,
ontologies, learning object vocabulary, metadata, Web content management,
and scientific communication. She has published more than 50 papers
and has given presentations at numerous national and international conferences.
Her research has been funded by the National Science Foundation,
OCLC Online Library Computer Center, and Institute for Scientific Information
(ISI). She teaches information organization, knowledge organization systems,
Web content management, and metadata. She was a visiting scholar at
OCLC in 2002 and is a member of the editorial board for two international
journals. Dr. Qin holds a PhD degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-
Champaign and an MLIS from the University of Western Ontario.

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