Data & Donuts

September 21, 2018

Melanie Cofield, Head of Access Systems, UT Libraries

The importance of metadata is often misunderstood or underestimated. Metadata helps people find resources and determine their value. Learning basic concepts and understanding the purpose of standards can help you streamline your research and data management methods.  If you've ever had difficulty finding relevant and reliable resources, or sifting through your own research data, you'll appreciate this session.

View presentation slides (download and open PowerPoint to see full notes per slide)

Tools and Resources for UT Researchers

• http://guides.lib.utexas.edu/metadata-basics
• This data description checklist is designed to help you to make your data reusable.
• Find metadata standards by discipline/subject area: http://rd-alliance.github.io/metadata-directory/
• Dublin Core is a domain-agnostic, well-known and widely used standard for simple, generic descriptions.
• Electronic Lab Notebooks are a useful tool for documenting and managing data throughout your project. There are many options (e.g., LabArchives, Evernote), each with unique features for various workflows.
• This readme.txt template provides detailed recommendations for how to describe and cite your data.
• Metadata requirements for Texas ScholarWorks, UT’s institutional repository.
• Schedule a consultation with our metadata specialists: contact Melanie Cofield at m.cofield@austin.utexas.edu.