Dublin Core Collection Description Application Profile Summary

Introduction

Note: This document presents a summary view only of the application profile. For full details, including notes on the nature of Dublin Core Application Profiles in general, and on the scope and purpose of this DCAP in particular, see the full description of the Dublin Core Collection Description Application Profile [DCCDAP].

Vocabularies/Namespaces used in this DCAP

All references to properties, classes, vocabulary encoding schemes and syntax encoding schemes in DC metadata descriptions are made using URIs. In this document, Qualified Names of the form prefix ":" local-part are used as abbreviations for URIs which identify metadata terms. Prefixes are assumed to be associated with Namespace Names (URIs) as follows, and the corresponding URI for the term is constructed by concatenating the Namespace Name and the local-part:

How to Read the Tables in this Document

Each main table in this document describes how a set of terms (properties, classes, vocabulary encoding schemes, syntax encoding schemes) is used to construct a DC metadata description of a resource of a specified type (e.g. a Collection).

Each row within the main tables describes how a specified property should be used in a statement within a DC metadata description of a resource of the specified type.

• Label for Property in this DCAP: A short human-readable label that provides an indication of how the property is to be used in a DC metadata description of a resource of the specified type. The label does not appear in the description. It may be used to provide a descriptor for fields in displays of descriptions to human readers, but there is no requirement for display applications to use this label.
• Property URI (as Qualified Name): A unique name/identifier for the property. It is presented as a Qualified Name, but is an abbreviation for a URI. This URI is used to refer to the property in DC metadata descriptions.
• Usage in this DCAP: A description of how the property is to be applied in a description of a resource of the specified type. This information supplements the definition of the property provided by its owner/maintenance agency.
• Obligation: An indication of whether a statement using this property is required in a description of a resource of the specified type. M = mandatory; a statement using this property is required, OR = a statement using this property is optional but recommended, O = a statement using this property is optional
• Vocabulary Encoding Scheme URI(s) (as Qualified Name(s)): The unique names/identifiers of vocabulary encoding schemes from which values for the property should be drawn. Names are presented as Qualified Names, but are abbreviations for URIs. The URI is used to refer to the vocabulary encoding scheme in DC metadata descriptions. If no vocabulary encoding scheme is listed, then the DCAP does not specify a vocabulary encoding scheme from which values should be drawn. However the definition and usage of the property may determine that values of only certain types are appropriate. For example, the value of the dc:creator property must be an entity capable of action.
• Value URI: An indication of whether, if a statement using the property (and vocabulary encoding scheme, where specified) is present, a value URI is to be used. M = mandatory - a value URI is required; MF = mandatory, fixed - a specified value URI is required; O = a value URI is optional (see note); N = a value URI is not permitted
• Value String: An indication of whether, if a statement using the property (and vocabulary encoding scheme, where specified) is present, a value string is to be used. M = mandatory - a value string is required; MF = mandatory, fixed - a specified value string is required; O = a value string is optional (see note); N = a value string is not permitted
• Qualified Name(s) for Syntax Encoding Scheme(s): The unique names/identifiers of datatypes from which value strings for the property should be drawn. Names are presented as Qualified Names, but are abbreviations for URIs. The URI is used to refer to the datatype in DC metadata descriptions. If no datatype is listed, then the DCAP does not specify a datatype from which value strings should be drawn.
• Rich Representation: An indication of whether, if a statement using the property (and vocabulary encoding scheme, where specified) is present, a rich representation is to be used. M = mandatory - a rich representation is required; O = a rich representation is optional (see note); N = a rich representation is not permitted

Note: For each statement, at least one of the following components must be present: a value URI, a rich representation, a value string or a (related) description.

Describing a Collection

A Collection is an aggregation of items.

It is recommended that a description of a Collection should include a resource URI.

The description of a Collection includes statements using the terms described in the following table:

Describing a Collection-Description

A Collection-Description is a resource which describes a Collection. This profile supports the description of Collection-Descriptions which are themselves also Collections, i.e. in the terms of the typology of the Analytical Model of Collections and their Catalogues [AMCC], Analytic Finding Aids, Hierarchic Finding Aids and Indexing Finding Aids.

It is recommended that a description of a Collection-Description should include a resource URI.

The description of a Collection-Description includes statements using the terms described in the following table:

References

[DCCDAP]  Dublin Core Collection Description Application Profile
http://dublincore.org/groups/collections/collection-application-profile/

[AMCC]  Heaney, Michael. An Analytical Model of Collections and their Catalogues
http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/metadata/rslp/model/

Changes made in this version

• Revise introduction to move content to main DCAP document and eliminate redundant duplication.
• Specify description of Collection-Description separately from description of Collection
• Amend descriptions of use of dc:subject, dcterms:spatial, dcterms:temporal to refer to collection rather than items or content of items
• Amend name and label of cld:dateContentsCreated ("Contents Date Range") property to cld:dateItemsCreated ("Date Items Created")
• Amend label of dcterms:created ("Accumulation Date Range") property to "Date Collection Accumulated")