Are some people losing track of the fact that we are dealing with the
Internet? With metadata we are not trying to create some gigantic library
catalogue, whereby once searchers have identified a resource they then have
to head for the library shelves or put in an inter-library loan request. On
the Web, the resource itself is just a click away - so why put detail into
the metadata that more properly belongs with the resource? If I find a
useful resource and want to contact the author, then I would hope to find
contact details on the resource, not hidden in the metadata - especially if
the metadata is in some repository. If the resource were several years old,
then I would understand that the contact details might be out of date and
be prepared to investigate further - I would not expect the site maintainer
to be constantly checking and updating contact information in metadata.
Prue
Prue Deacon
Web Business Solutions
Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care, Australia
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