"A centre of excellence in digital information management, providing advice and services to the library, information and cultural heritage communities."

UKOLN is based at the University of Bath.

Collection Description

Metadata - or structured data - about collections as resources. It is used to support resource discovery by making descriptions available across archives, libraries and museums for both digital and physical collections. Further, it can be used as a collection management tool.

Traditionally archives, libraries and museums have each developed their own view of the concept of ‘collections’ and the documentation required. Read more.

First Steps

• IntroBytes quick introductions
• Collection Description Focus Tutorial

Try it out

• Collection Description Focus Tutorial - DIY

Collection Description for Implementers

• Dublin Core Collection Description Community and the DC Collections Application Profile
• Tap into Bath collection description software for free re-use
• RSLP Collection Description model and metadata schema
• MICHAEL-UK Collection Description Manual

Examples of collection description databases

• Cornucopia: collections held by cultural heritage institutions in the UK.
• MICHAEL – Multilingual Inventory of Cultural Heritage in Europe: covers the digital collections of museums, libraries and archives from different European countries.
• SCONE: the Scottish Collections Network covers collections held in Scottish libraries, museums and archives, and collections about Scottish issues held elsewhere.
• Tap into Bath: collections held in public and academic libraries and archives, galleries, and museums in the city of Bath.
• Southern Cross Resource Finder (SCRF): information about collections from libraries, archives and museums which hold resources useful for the study of Australia and/or New Zealand.
• Cecilia: information about collections on every aspect of music – scores, instruments, music programmes, recordings – for every type of music from the esoteric to the popular.
• Backstage: covers performing arts collections in the UK. It is aimed at the research community, plus anyone with an interest in the performing arts.
• MASC25: an online resource guide to printed special collections in academic libraries within the M25 Consortium.
• RASCAL: Research and Special Collections Available Online covers the wide range of research and special collections held in libraries, museums and archives in Ireland.
• PADDI: Planning Architecture Design Database Ireland covers all aspects of the built environment and environmental planning in Ireland, north and south.