Minimally-Viable Records
Metadata in the UNT Libraries’ Digital Collections uses the UNTL format, which is a locally-qualified Dublin Core schema with twenty-one (21) possible fields. Within the metadata documentation for the Digital Collections, there is an underlying concept of a minimally-viable record, i.e., the minimum amount of information required for a record to be usable.
A record meets the criteria for a “minimally-viable record” if it has values for eight required fields, representing the lowest common denominator of a “complete” record within the Digital Collections. Each of these field values can easily be determined or assigned by looking at an item, or through administrative information (for collection and institution).
Although we encourage metadata creators to enter all known/applicable information in relevant fields, optional fields contain information which may not be available or appropriate for all items.
Required Fields
Field |
Qualifier |
Definition |
Repeatability |
Reason |
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Main Title |
The name given to the resource. |
Every item must have one (1) main title
Some records may have multiple title types
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Every digital object should have a name encompassing the whole resource. |
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The language(s) of the intellectual content of the resource. |
Repeatable as necessary |
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Content |
Description of the content attributes of the resource. |
Not repeatable |
Describes the item to assist users in finding relevant resources. |
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[any] |
The subjects or topics that succinctly describe the content of the resource. |
A minimum of two subjects is required, there is currently no defined maximum |
Assists in locating items with similar topics, particularly for image-based items. |
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A locally-defined hierarchical controlled vocabulary for subject description. |
At least one UNTL-BS term is required for all records in The Portal to Texas History |
These terms allow the “Browse by Subject” functionality. |
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Collection refers to a larger group of resources with a unique collective title to which the resource being described belongs. |
Items can be assigned to multiple collections as appropriate |
This is a primary way that items are grouped, topically, and provides a collection-level description for context. |
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A consistent reference to the institution or administrative unit that owns the digital resource for which metadata was created. |
Not repeatable |
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Resource Type |
The type or category of the primary content of the resource. |
Not repeatable |
Important for browsing by material types. |
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The digital manifestation of the resource. |
Not repeatable |
Used for metadata interoperability. |
Optional Fields
Field |
Definition |
Usage Notes |
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Title (all other types) |
(See the glossary of title types.) |
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The person, agency, or organization primarily responsible for creating the intellectual content of the resource. |
Must include a type (person or organization) and role. |
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The name of the person or organization that has played an important but secondary role in creating the content of the resource and is not specified in the creator element. |
Must include a type (person or organization) and role. |
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An entity responsible for making the resource available: the publisher of the original work. |
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Dates associated with events in the life cycle of the resource. |
May have multiple date types, but not multiple entries for the same date type. |
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Description of the physical attributes of the resource. |
Inclusion is highly encouraged. |
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The primary source field designates firsthand accounts of historical subjects. |
Not generally used for the UNT Digital Library. |
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Information about a resource from which the current resource is derived. |
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Information about a serial item, a resource from which the current resource is derived, or peer-reviewed status of items. |
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Information about another resource that is related to the current resource. |
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Rights information provides information about rights held in and over the resource; describes the conditions under which the work may be used, distributed, reproduced, etc.; how these conditions may change over time; and whom to contact regarding the copyright of the work. |
Rights information is not added to most records by default since a blanket statement displays on every item page in the Digital Collections. Rights information can be entered in any (or all) of these four categories:
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A numeric or alphanumeric string or a URL that identifies the item in a particular context. |
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Degree information provides detailed information associated with the work as it appears on the item. |
Included for items created at UNT (e.g., theses or dissertations, and other scholarly materials). |
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A “catch-all” field for additional information that cannot be entered in other elements. |