Metadata Collection Level Description

A proposed list of collection types

Where an example is hyperlinked, the link points to a description of the collection using the proposed list of core collection description attributes.

Collection

Collection.Catalogue

A manually created catalogue.

Collection.Catalogue.Internet

A manually created catalogue of Internet resources.
Examples: Yahoo

Collection.Catalogue.Internet.Subject

A manually created catalogue of Internet resources in a particular subject area. Often refered to as a Subject Based Information Gateway (SBIG) or subject service.
Examples: SOSIG, OMNI, ADAM, EEVL

Collection.Catalogue.Library

A library catalogue (OPAC).
Examples: Univesity of Bath OPAC, COPAC

Collection.Catalogue.Museum

A museum catalogue.
Examples:

Collection.Catalogue.Archive

An archival finding aid.
Examples:

Collection.Index

An automatically (robot) generated index.

Collection.Index.Internet

An automatically (robot) generated index of Internet resources. Often refered to as a Web Index or a Web search engine.
Examples: Alta Vista, Lycos

Collection.Index.Internet.Subject

An automatically (robot) generated index of Internet resources based on the contents of a subject service catalogue.
Examples:

Collection.Text

A collection of items that are primarily words for reading. For example - books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre "text".
Examples: Mailbase, Internet Library of Early Journals

Collection.Image

A collection of items that are primarily symbolic visual representations other than text. For example - images and photographs of physical objects, paintings, prints, drawings, other images and graphics, animations and moving pictures, film, diagrams, maps, musical notation. Note that "image" may include both electronic and physical representations.
Examples:

Collection.Sound

A collection of items that are primarily audio. For example - music, speech, recorded sounds.
Examples: Voices from the Dust Bowl

Collection.Dataset

A collection of items that primarily consist of structured information encoded in lists, tables, databases, etc., which will normally be in a format available for direct machine processing. For example - spreadsheets, databases, GIS data, midi data. Note that collections of items that are primarily unstructured numbers and words will normally be considered to be type "Collection.Text".
Examples: Digimap

Collection.Software

A software repository.
Examples: HENSA, SunSite,

Collection.Interactive

A collection of resources which require interaction from the user to be understood, executed, or experienced. For example - forms on web pages, applets, multimedia learning objects, chat services, virtual reality.
Examples:

Collection.Event

A collection of non-persistent, time-based occurences.
Examples: The Follett Lecture Series

Collection.PhysicalObject

A collection of three dimensional objects or substances which are not primarily text or image or one of the other types listed here. For example - people, computers, sculptures or wheat (!) . Note that collections of digital representations of, or surrogates for, these things should use "Collection.Image", "Collection.Text" or one of the other collection types listed here.

Collection.Library

A library collection (books, journals, etc.).
Examples:

Collection.Library.Special

A collection of books connected with local history, celebrities, industries, etc., or on a certain subject or period, or gathered for some particular reason, in a library which is general in character.
Examples: The Pitman Collection

Collection.Library.Subject

1) A complete library: a special library is an example of a subject collection which is a complete library. 2) A subject collection within a library: a collection of material on a particular subject kept together within a larger general collection, and usually with a distinct name. 3) A dispersed collection within a library: a collection of material on a single subject, but not kept together and not referred to by a specific name.
Examples:

Collection.Library.Form

A collection of library materials shelved by form.
Examples:

Collection.Library.User

A collection arranged specifically for a particular group of users.
Examples:

Collection.Library.Database

A collection of online databases or networked CD-ROMs. These collections will normally be linked by subject, as well as by form.
Examples:

Collection.Museum

A museum collection (artefacts, etc.).
Examples:

Collection.Archive

An archive is a whole which documents the life and work of an institution or individual, which has been retained in its original working order and is of known provenance.
Examples: National Fairground Archive

Collection.DigitalArchive

A collection of digital objects stored for preservation purposes (also called a repository).
Examples: The Wilfred Owen Multimedia Digital Archive

[Collection Level Description] [Metadata] [UKOLN]