This appendix contains an example of a metadata template – populated and unpopulated. The example is a good starting point for metadata development. See Chapter 7 for full information about working with metadata, particularly for projects where interoperability between different systems is required.

Spreadsheets are the suggested best format to use in a real project, due to their flexibility. When the metadata entities are in a spreadsheet, it can facilitate loading of those metadata entities into a taxonomy application, if one is available.

The tables in this appendix may also be copied into, or created as, a text file – whatever works best for the project and its audience(s).

A typical metadata workbook has at least three tabs:

• • overview of the workbook including:

• – who created it

• – what is the purpose of the workbook

• – when was it created and last edited

• – where one can find relevant links used for research, etc. (optional)

• – description of each tab

• – any other details that may be helpful to someone referencing the workbook.

• • tab for the metadata entities

• • tab for the controlled vocabularies.

This document contains an example of each of these tabs. Capturing metadata in a workbook also facilitates cross-map efforts.

Metadata template: overview

Use this template as the starting point for creating metadata models.