Tutorials

Metadata in Minnesota Reflections

The Minnesota Reflections Metadata Guidelines were revised in 2011. In each tutorial, examples from Minnesota Reflections are shown and you will discover how to enter information into the Excel spreadsheet that you will use to submit your metadata.

Much of the content used in the tutorials can be found in the Minnesota Reflections Metadata Guidelines. More recordings will be added and linked to below as they are created. If you have questions about the Minnesota Reflections Metadata Guidelines, contact Greta Bahnemann (bahne002@umn.edu), Metadata Coordinator, Minnesota Digital Library.

You will need the latest version of Adobe Flash Player installed on your computer to view the tutorials below. If you need to download and install the Flash Player, click on the link below.

Creating Descriptive Titles Movie icon. (09:35)
Discern what a descriptive title is and learn how to create descriptive titles for the 3 most common image types in Minnesota Reflections: people, buildings, and city views.

Creator vs. Contributor Movie icon. (10:37)
Understand the differences between an item Creator and Contributor. Review some of the common misconceptions associated with an item Contributor.

Writing Item Descriptions Movie icon. (08:42)
Learn what an item description is and how to create one that adheres to the Minnesota Reflections Metadata Guidelines.

Date of Creation Movie icon. (08:00)
Discover what a Date of Creation is, review the different forms dates can take and learn how to format these different types of dates correctly.

Topic, Type, and Format Movie icon. (12:54)
Learn how to complete three fields together: Minnesota Reflections Topic, Item Type, and Item Physical Format. Completing these fields simultaneously results in an item record with both general and specific information about the item.