My interest in the DCMI Kernel metadata effort comes from my work in
preservation.  My institution uses conversion to digital file formats via
scanning as its preservation reformatting option of choice, a choice that
then requires us to provide a range of metadata to describe the new format,
to facilitate navigation within the files, etc.   I'd like to know what
others think are the minimum data elements required to describe adequately a
digital file created to be a surrogate for an orginal in another format.  I
have some experience with metadata requirements for presrvation surrogates
that are so onerous that the institution cannot commit the cataloger time to
create those data points.

Any thoughts?  THanks in advance.

- Carla

Carla Q. Montori
Head, Preservation Division
University of Michigan University Library
Ann Arbor, Michigan  48109-1205
U.S.A.