DCMI Government Application Profile

Contents

1. Introduction
2. Namespaces and Format of entries
3. DC-Extensions and additions
4. DC-Government Application Profile

---

1. Introduction

In June 2001, the first of a series of seminars was held in Brussels under the general title 'Managing information resources for e-government' (MIReG). Attended by representatives from many European governments as well as Australia, Canada and New Zealand, it revealed that we were all in similar positions regarding tagging information to improve acessibility and manageability.

Following the seminar MIReG became part of the revised IDA Programme (Interchange of Data between Administrations) for 2001. It will produce an EC metadata framework covering vocabulary control and other encoding schemes, ontologies and topic maps, software interfaces and best practice guidelines. MIReG works in conjunction with other EC programmes such as ParlML.

Working practices within IDA require the establishment of an Advisory Board to take control of each programme. The MIReG Advisory Boardconsists of:

· John Borras - UK Office of the e-Envoy
· Peter Pappamikail, European Parliament, ParlML project
· Palle Aargaard, Denmark, Communications Consultant, Danish State Information Service
· Makx Dekkers, Luxembourg, Managing Director, DCMI
· Paul Murphy, European Commission, IDA Programme
· Maewyn Cumming, UK Office of the e-Envoy.

MIReG also works with CEN (European Standards Organisation) to help its Metadata for MulitMedia Information - Dublin Core™ (MMI-DC) Workshop.

MIReG's main tasks are to:

1. Produce an EC metadata framework, including a metadata standard, XML schema to support standard, vocabulary lists (geography and subjects), specifications for toolkits and search engines and implementation advice, eg training, conversion of legacy systems;
2. Support the DC-Gov Working Group in the establishment of a Dublin Core™ government extension; and
3. Support the establishment of an MMI-DC government metadata standard

Metadata in the public sector

Dublin Core™ is already being used by practically all governments that are attempting to improve access to their information. However, though seen as the ideal starting point, it is not sufficient for our varied and specialised needs. It doesn't cater for data security, or the requirements of the data protection or freedom of information legislation, the need for information audit trails, or the complex legislative processes. It is therefore necessary to extend DC to create an element set comprehensive enough to cope with the job in hand.

MIReG will also need to build on the DC-Gov extensions to create a metadata standard with a more comprehensive remit than DC, but remaining compatible. While DC covers the requirement for improved resource discovery, elements and refinements to satisfy the needs of good records management and integrated document management systems are also needed.

Why? Official information often has a long life. Records are maintained for statutory periods, these can vary from a few months to perpetuity. The management of these records, and the ability to locate them after many years and many changes in the structure of government, is a challenging task, and more so now that that electronic records are making many of the established systems redundant. In their eternal drive for efficiency, government are looking for a system that will allow the creation of metadata that will see information resources throughout their long lives, minimising the need to repeat or edit data.

2. Namespaces and Format of entries

The DC-Government Application Profile consists of several namespaces:

· Dublin Core™ Metadata Element Set, Version 1.1 [DCMES version 1.1]
· Dublin Core™ Qualifiers [DCMES Qualifiers (2000-07-11)]
· DC-Gov Metadata Element Set (DC-GOVMES)
· DC-Gov Metadata Element Set Qualifiers (DC-GOVMES Qualifiers)

Format of entries:

Name	The unique token assigned to the qualifier
Label	The human-readable label assigned to the qualifier.
Choice of Namespace	DCMES version 1.1, DCMES Qualifiers (2000-07-11) or DC-Gov Metadata Element Set = DC-Gov, DC-Gov Metadata Element Set Qualifiers = DC-Gov Qualifiers
DC Refinement(s)	DC Element Refinements: These qualifiers make the meaning of an element narrower or more specific. A refined element shares the meaning of the unqualified element, but with a more restricted scope.
DC-Gov Refinement(s)	DC-Gov refinement, see above; these are domain-specific refinements for DC-Gov.
DC Encoding Scheme(s)	These qualifiers identify schemes that aid in the interpretation of an element value. These schemes include controlled vocabularies and formal notations or parsing rules. A value expressed using an encoding scheme will thus be a token selected from a controlled vocabulary (e.g., a term from a classification system or set of subject headings) or a string formatted in accordance with a formal notation (e.g., "2000-01-01" as the standard expression of a date). If an encoding scheme is not understood by a client or agent, the value may still be useful to a human reader.
DC-Gov Encoding Scheme(s)	DC-Gov encoding scheme, see above; these are domain-specific encoding schemes for DC-Gov.
Form of Obligation	In the DC-Gov data model the obligation can be: mandatory (M), mandatory if applicable (MA), strongly recommended (R) or optional (O). Mandatory "M" ensures that some of the elements are always supported and mandatory if applicable "MA" means that this element must be supported if the information is available. An element with a mandatory "M" obligation must have a value. The strongly recommended and the optional elements should be filled with a value if the information is appropriate to the given resource but if not, they can be left blank.
DC Definition	Dublin Core™ definition of metadata field
DC Comment	Dublin Core™ comments to this metadata field
DC-Gov Definition	DC-Gov definition of metadata field
DC-Gov Comment	DC-Gov comments to this metadata field
Best practice	Recommendations of best use of this element for DC-Gov
Open questions	Problems, notes, open questions regarding this field

3. DC-Extensions and additions

A summary of the extensions, additions and other changes proposed to the Dublin Core™ Elements Set.

A. Additional Element

1. Audience
A category of user for whom the resource is intended

B. Additional refinements to existing DC elements

1. Date

Acquisition

Date on which the resource was received into the organisation.

2. Relation

IsBasedOn	The resource is an adaptation, translation, derivation or interpretation of another resource
IsBasisFor	The resource is adapted, translated, derived or interpreted by another resource

3. Rights

Access marking	Item or notation regulating access to the resource.
Previous Access marking	Item or notation of immediately preceding marking, if any, at time of change.
Access marking change date	Date that the access marking allocated previously to the current AccessMarking was changed.
Access rights	Constraints or obligation governing the release of the resource.
Copyright	Indicates the copyright status of the resource

4. Subject

Category	Broad subject categories from a prescribed list.
Keyword	Words or terms used to describe, as specifically as possible, the subject matter of the resource.

5. Type

Aggregation level	A resource type may be an aggregation of instances of another resource type.
Dossier type	Describes the purpose or genre of a collection of items
Item type	Describes the purpose or genre of a specific item or document

4. DC-Government Application Profile

Audience

Name	Audience
Label	Audience
Choice of Namespace:	?
DC Refinement(s)	See below
DC-Gov Refinement(s)	See below
DC Encoding Scheme(s)	-
DC-Gov Encoding Scheme(s)	-
Form of Obligation	O
DC Definition	A class of entity for whom the resource is intended or useful.
DC Comment
DC-Gov Definition	-
DC-Gov Comment	-
Best Practice
Open Questions	Encoding scheme(s) are needed but the definitive scheme does not yet exist.

Contributor

Name	Contributor
Label	Contributor
Choice of Namespace:	DCMES version 1.1
DC Refinement(s)
DC-Gov Refinement(s)
DC Encoding Scheme(s)
DC-Gov Encoding Scheme(s)
Form of Obligation	MA
DC Definition	An entity responsible for making contributions to the content of the resource.
DC Comment	Examples of a Contributor include a person, an organisation, or a service. Typically, the name of a Contributor should be used to indicate the entity.
DC-Gov Definition
DC-Gov Comment
Best Practice
Open Questions

Coverage

Name	Coverage ¦ Spatial
Label	...
Choice of Namespace:	DCMES Qualifiers
DC Encoding Scheme(s)	DCMI Point, ISO 3166, DCMI Box, TGN
DC-Gov Encoding Scheme(s)
Form of Obligation	R or MA
DC Definition	Spatial characteristics of the intellectual content of the resource.
DC Comment	Coverage will typically include spatial location. Recommended best practice is to select a value from a controlled vocabulary.
DC-Gov Definition	-
DC-Gov Comment
Best Practice	Use Coverage with qualifier Spatial or Temporal.
Open Questions	Is there a suitable encoding scheme that meets the level of detail and variety of regions that government information resources cover?

 

Name	Coverage ¦ Temporal
Label	Coverage | Temporal
Choice of Namespace:	DCMES Qualifiers
DC Encoding Scheme(s)	DCMI Period, W3C-DTF
DC-Gov Encoding Scheme(s)	-
Form of Obligation	R or MA
DC Definition	Temporal characteristics of the intellectual content of the resource.
DC Comment	Coverage will typically include temporal period. Recommended best practice is to select a value from a controlled vocabulary.
DC-Gov Definition	-
DC-Gov Comment	-
Best Practice	?
Open Questions

Creator

Name	Creator
Label	Creator
Choice of Namespace:	DCMES version 1.1
DC Refinement(s)
DC-Gov Refinement(s)
DC Encoding Scheme(s)
DC-Gov Encoding Scheme(s)
Form of Obligation	See below
DC Definition	An entity primarily responsible for making the content of the resource.
DC Comment	Examples of a Creator include a person, an organisation, or a service. Typically, the name of a Creator should be used to indicate the entity.
DC-Gov Definition
DC-Gov Comment
Best Practice
Open Questions

Date

Name	Date
Label	Date
Choice of Namespace:	DCMES version 1.1
DC Refinement(s)	see below
DC-Gov Refinement(s)	see below
DC Encoding Scheme(s)	see below
DC-Gov Encoding Scheme(s)	-
Form of Obligation	MA
DC Definition	A date associated with an event in the life cycle of the resource.
DC Comment	Typically, date will be associated with the creation or availability of the resource. Recommended best practice for encoding the date value is defined in a profile of ISO 8601 [W3CDTF] and follows the YYYY-MM-DD format.
DC-Gov Definition	-
DC-Gov Comment
Best Practice	A refinement should always be used.
Open Questions	Do we accept the Date element without refinement? How to deal with inadequacies of the possible encoding schemes? There are limitations in conveying: 1) BCE dates; 2) non-Gregorian calendar dates; 3) ambiguity, approximation (e.g., about, near, flourished, assumed); 4) partially known dates (e.g., 19?? ); 5) date is unknown/unavailable; 6) open-ended intervals (e.g., 1999-); 7) complex, multi-instance/period intervals. Are there conventions (e.g. bracket, slash, etc.) or other encoding schemes we want to specify to allow for these limitations?

Date

Name	Date ¦ Acquired
Label	DATE ¦ Acquired
Choice of Namespace:	?
DC Refinement(s)	See below
DC-Gov Encoding Scheme(s)	W3CDTF
Form of Obligation
DC Definition	Date on which the resource was received into the organisation.
DC Comment
DC-Gov Definition	-
DC-Gov Comment	The nature of a resource can change when it is submitted by one authority to another, ( e.g. in legislative procedures) without necessarily any change being made to the content of that resource. EXAMPLE: The date that a legislative text is tables for consideration (=date of acquisition by the House) is not the same as the date the resource is adopted (by the submitting or receiving authority).
Best Practice
Open Questions

Date

Name	Date ¦ created
Label	Date ¦ Created
Choice of Namespace:	DCMES Qualifiers (2000-07-11)
DC Encoding Scheme(s)	see below
DC-Gov Encoding Scheme(s)	W3CDTF
DC Definition	Date of creation of the resource.
DC Comment	-
DC-Gov Definition	-
DC-Gov Comment
Best Practice
Open Questions

Date

Name	Date ¦ valid
Label	Date ¦ Valid
Choice of Namespace:	DCMES Qualifiers (2000-07-11)
DC Encoding Scheme(s)	see below
DC-Gov Encoding Scheme(s)	W3CDTF
DC Definition	Date (often a range) of validity of the resource.
DC Comment	-
DC-Gov Definition	-
DC-Gov Comment	-
Best Practice	?
Open Questions

Date

Name	Date ¦ available
Label	Date | Available
Choice of Namespace:	DCMES Qualifiers (2000-07-11)
DC Encoding Scheme(s)	see below
DC-Gov Encoding Scheme(s)	W3CDTF
DC Definition	Date (often a range) that the resource will become or did become available.
DC Comment	-
DC-Gov Definition	-
DC-Gov Comment	-
Best Practice	?
Open Questions

Date

Name	Date ¦ issued
Label	Date | Issued
Choice of Namespace:	DCMES Qualifiers (2000-07-11)
DC Encoding Scheme(s)	see below
DC-Gov Encoding Scheme(s)	W3CDTF
DC Definition	Date of formal issuance (e.g. publication) of the resource.
DC Comment	-
DC-Gov Definition	-
DC-Gov Comment	Includes date resource was put onto a web site. Time may also be needed e.g. where the item was subject to a press embargo.
Best Practice
Open Questions

Date

Name	Date ¦ modified
Label	Date | Modified
Choice of Namespace:	DCMES Qualifiers (2000-07-11)
DC Encoding Scheme(s)	see below
DC-Gov Encoding Scheme(s)	-
DC Definition	Date on which the resource was changed.
DC Comment	-
DC-Gov Definition	-
DC-Gov Comment	-
Best Practice
Open Questions

Description

Name	Description
Label	Description
Choice of Namespace:	DCMES version 1.1
DC Refinement(s)	Table of contents; Abstract
DC-Gov Refinement(s)	Table of contents; Abstract
DC Encoding Scheme(s)
DC-Gov Encoding Scheme(s)
Form of Obligation	R
DC Definition	An account of the content of the resource.
DC Comment	Description may include but is not limited to: an abstract, table of contents, reference to a graphical representation of content or a free-text account of the content.
DC-Gov Definition	-
DC-Gov Comment	The description could cover approach to subject (e.g. critique, explanation, beginners guide), reason for production of resource, groups and organisations referred to, events covered, list of key fields (database) or chapters, any other useful information
Best Practice
Open Questions

Format

Name	Format
Label	Format
Choice of Namespace:	DCMES version 1.1
DC Refinement(s)	Extent; Medium
DC-Gov Refinement(s)	see below
DC Encoding Scheme(s)	IMT
DC-Gov Encoding Scheme(s)	IMT
Form of Obligation	R
DC Definition	The physical or digital manifestation of the resource.
DC Comment	Typically, Format may include the media-type or dimensions of the resource. Format may be used to determine the software, hardware or other equipment needed to display or operate the resource. Examples of dimensions include size and duration. Recommended best practice is to select a value from a controlled vocabulary (for example, the list of Internet Media Types [MIME] defining computer media formats).
DC-Gov Definition
DC-Gov Comment
Best Practice
Open Questions

Identifier

Name	Identifier
Label	...
Choice of Namespace:	DCMES version 1.1
DC Refinement(s)	-
DC-Gov Refinement(s)
DC Encoding Scheme(s)
DC-Gov Encoding Scheme(s)
Form of Obligation	M
DC Definition	An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context.
DC Comment	Recommended best practice is to identify the resource by means of a string or number conforming to a formal identification system. Example formal identification systems include the Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) (including the Uniform Resource Locator (URL)), the Digital Object Identifier (DOI) and the International Standard Book Number (ISBN).
DC-Gov Definition	-
DC-Gov Comment	-
Best Practice	Use best practice statement as above.
Open Questions	Should ISBN, ISSN be used as encoding schemes?How to deal with internal identifiers - we could build on EC work developing a hierachical scheme for identifiers, adding identifiers for country/organisation/item to create a unique identifier.

Language

Name	Language ¦ ISO639-2/B
Label	Language ¦ ISO639-2/B
Choice of Namespace:	DCMES version 1.1
DC Refinement(s)	-
DC-Gov Refinement(s)	-
DC Encoding Scheme(s)	ISO 639-2/B; RFC 1766
DC-Gov Encoding Scheme(s)	ISO 639-2
Form of Obligation	M
DC Definition	A language of the intellectual content of the resource.
DC Comment
DC-Gov Definition	Use the bibliographic codes from ISO 639-2. ISO 639-2 in general is a DCMI approved encoding scheme.
DC-Gov Comment	-
Best Practice	Use codes rather than text.
Open Questions

Publisher

Name	Publisher
Label	Publisher
Choice of Namespace:	DCMES version 1.1
DC Refinement(s)
DC-Gov Refinement(s)
DC Encoding Scheme(s)
DC-Gov Encoding Scheme(s)
Form of Obligation	R
DC Definition	An entity responsible for making the resource available.
DC Comment	Examples of a Publisher include a person, an organisation, or a service. Typically, the name of a Publisher should be used to indicate the entity.
DC-Gov Definition
DC-Gov Comment
Best Practice	A publisher has certain legal responsibilities regarding the information, so should always be named.
Open Questions

Relation
NOTE - qualifiers appear here in pairs, to save space.

Name	Relation
Label	Relation
Choice of Namespace:	DCMES version 1.1
DC Refinement(s)	see below
DC-Gov Refinement(s)	see below
DC Encoding Scheme(s)	URI
DC-Gov Encoding Scheme(s)	URI
Form of Obligation	O
DC Definition	A reference to a related resource.
DC Comment	Recommended best practice is to reference the resource by means of a string or number conforming to a formal identification system.
DC-Gov Definition	-
DC-Gov Comment	If using qualifiers, use the most specific one that is applicable.
Best Practice
Open Questions

Relation

Name	Relation ¦ isVersionOf / HasVersion
Label	Relation | Is Version Of / Has Version
Choice of Namespace:	DCMES Qualifiers
DC Encoding Scheme(s)	URI
DC-Gov Encoding Scheme(s)	URI
Form of Obligation
DC Definition	The described resource is a version, edition, or adaptation of the referenced resource. Changes in version implies substantive changes in content rather than differences in format.
DC Comment	-
DC-Gov Definition	-
DC-Gov Comment
Best Practice
Open Questions

 

Name	Relation ¦ IsBasedOn / IsBasisFor
Label	Relation ¦ Is Based On / Is Basis For
Choice of Namespace:	?
DC Encoding Scheme(s)	URI
DC-Gov Encoding Scheme(s)	URI
DC Definition
DC Comment
DC-Gov Definition	The described resource is a translation, derivation or interpretation of another resource.
DC-Gov Comment	Whereas IsVersionOf indicates a 'linear' evolution of a content from one stage to another, IsBasedOn indicates a 'transversal' relationship with another resource, either of a similar or same nature in another language or of a completely separate resource that nonetheless has inspired or been used in the creation or evolution of the resource. EXAMPLES. A legal act that 'IsBasedOn' a draft legislative proposal and a European Union directive. A press release that IsBasedOn the published research paper.
Best Practice
Open Questions	Need some good examples here, and perhaps a better definition.

 

Name	Relation ¦ IsFormatOf / HasFormat
Label	Relation | Is Format Of / Has Format
Choice of Namespace:	DCMES Qualifiers
DC Encoding Scheme(s)	URI
DC-Gov Encoding Scheme(s)	URI
DC Definition	The described resource is the same intellectual content of the referenced resource, but presented in another format.
DC Comment	-
DC-Gov Definition	The described resource is the same intellectual content of the referenced resource, but presented in different physical or digital format.
DC-Gov Comment
Best Practice
Open Questions

 

Name	Relation ¦ isReplacedBy / Replaces
Label	Relation | Is Replaced By / Replaces
Choice of Namespace:	DCMES Qualifiers
DC Encoding Scheme(s)	URI
DC-Gov Encoding Scheme(s)	URI
Form of Obligation
DC Definition	The described resource is supplanted, displaced, or superceded by the referenced resource.
DC Comment	-
DC-Gov Definition
DC-Gov Comment
Best Practice
Open Questions

Name	Relation ¦ IsPartOf / HasPart
Label	Relation | Is Part Of / Has Part
Choice of Namespace:	DCMES Qualifiers
DC Encoding Scheme(s)	URI
DC-Gov Encoding Scheme(s)	URI
Form of Obligation
DC Definition	The described resource is a physical or logical part of the referenced resource.
DC Comment	-
DC-Gov Definition	-
DC-Gov Comment	Can be used in conjuction with Type¦Aggregation level to give a clear description of dossiers and collections.
Best Practice
Open Questions

 

Name	Relation ¦ IsRequiredBy / Requires
Label	Relation | Is Required By / Requires
Choice of Namespace:	DCMES Qualifiers
DC Encoding Scheme(s)	URI
DC-Gov Encoding Scheme(s)	URI
DC Definition	The described resource requires the referenced resource to support its function, delivery, or coherence of content.
DC Comment	-
DC-Gov Definition	-
DC-Gov Comment	-
Best Practice
Open Questions

 

Name	Relation ¦ isReferencedBy / References
Label	Relation | Is Referenced By / References
Choice of Namespace:	DCMES Qualifiers
DC Encoding Scheme(s)	URI
DC-Gov Encoding Scheme(s)	URI
DC Definition	The described resource is referenced, cited, or otherwise pointed to by the referenced resource.
DC Comment	-
DC-Gov Definition	-
DC-Gov Comment	-
Best Practice
Open Questions

Rights

Name	Rights
Label	Rights
Choice of Namespace:	DCMES version 1.1
DC Refinement(s)	-
DC-Gov Refinement(s)	See below
DC Encoding Scheme(s)	-
DC-Gov Encoding Scheme(s)	See below
Form of Obligation	MA
DC Definition	Information about rights held in and over the resource.
DC Comment	Typically, a Rights element will contain a rights management statement for the resource, or reference a service providing such information. Rights information often encompasses Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), Copyright, and various Property Rights.
DC-Gov Definition	-
DC-Gov Comment	The rights element is used to indicate security markings, as well as legal and other obligations and restrictions on access to the resource.
Best Practice
Open Questions

Rights

Name	Rights ¦ AccessMarking
Label	Rights ¦ Access Marking
Choice of Namespace:	?
DC Encoding Scheme(s)	-
DC-Gov Encoding Scheme(s)	-
DC Definition
DC Comment
DC-Gov Definition	Item or notation regulating access to the resource.
DC-Gov Comment	The security or access classification of the resource. EXAMPLES: Secret, Confidential-within-administration, Public
Best Practice
Open Questions

Name	Rights ¦ PreviousAccessMarking
Label	Rights ¦ Previous Access Marking
Choice of Namespace:	?
DC Encoding Scheme(s)	-
DC-Gov Encoding Scheme(s)	-
DC Definition
DC Comment
DC-Gov Definition	Item or notation of immediately preceding marking, if any, at time of change.
DC-Gov Comment
Best Practice
Open Questions

Rights

Name	Rights ¦ PreviousAccessMarkingChangeDate
Label	Rights ¦ Previous Access Marking Change Date
Choice of Namespace:	?
DC Encoding Scheme(s)	-
DC-Gov Encoding Scheme(s)	W3CDTF
DC Definition
DC Comment
DC-Gov Definition	Date that the access marking allocated previously to the current AccessMarking was changed .
DC-Gov Comment	Date of the change indicated in the preceding refinement.
Best Practice
Open Questions

Rights

Name	Rights ¦ AccessRights
Label	Rights ¦ AccessRights
Choice of Namespace:	?
DC Refinement(s)	See below
DC-Gov Encoding Scheme(s)	-
DC Definition
DC Comment
DC-Gov Definition	Constraints or obligation governing the release of the resource.
DC-Gov Comment	Indicates the legal or other basis upon which governs public access to the resource.EXAMPLE: Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2001 regarding public access to European Parliament, Council and Commission documents (http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/en/lif/dat/2001/en_301R1049.html)
Best Practice
Open Questions	Should we add the option of using an encoding scheme?

 

Name	Rights ¦ Copyright
Label	Rights ¦ Copyright
Choice of Namespace:	?
DC Encoding Scheme(s)	-
DC-Gov Encoding Scheme(s)	-
DC Definition
DC Comment
DC-Gov Definition	Identifier or statement indication the legal ownership and rights regarding use of the resource.
DC-Gov Comment
Best Practice	Link to a standard description of rights such as the Crown copyright notice at www.hmso.gov.uk/docs/copynote.htm.
Open Questions	Does this clash with the DC-Lib proposal to have a Date¦copyright refinement? Would it be better to put the Copyright statement and date together in this refinement?

Source

Name	Source
Label	Source
Choice of Namespace:	DCMES version 1.1
DC Refinement(s)	-
DC-Gov Refinement(s)	-
DC Encoding Scheme(s)	URI
DC-Gov Encoding Scheme(s)	URI
Form of Obligation	see below
DC Definition	A reference to a resource from which the present resource is derived.
DC Comment	The present resource may be derived from the Source resource in whole or in part. Recommended best practice is to reference the resource by means of a string or number conforming to a formal identification system.
DC-Gov Definition	-
DC-Gov Comment	-
Best Practice	Reference by means of an identifier
Open Questions

Subject

Name	Subject
Label	Subject
Choice of Namespace:	DCMES version 1.1
DC Refinement(s)	-
DC-Gov Refinement(s)	see below
DC Encoding Scheme(s)	LCSH ; MeSH ; DDC ; LCC ; UDC
DC-Gov Encoding Scheme(s)	LCSH ; MeSH ; DDC ; LCC ; UDC
Form of Obligation	MA
DC Definition	The topic of the content of the resource.
DC Comment	Typically, a Subject will be expressed as keywords, key phrases or classification codes that describe a topic of the resource. Recommended best practice is to select a value from a controlled vocabulary or formal classification scheme.
DC-Gov Definition	-
DC-Gov Comment
Best Practice
Open Questions	May Subject element be used in a unqualified form?

Subject

Name	Subject ¦ Category
Label	Subject ¦ Category
Choice of Namespace:	?
DC Encoding Scheme(s)	-
DC-Gov Encoding Scheme(s)	-
DC Definition
DC Comment
DC-Gov Definition	A broad or top level subject categorisation or classification of subject areas.
DC-Gov Comment	Differs from Subject¦Keyword in that it requires a broad heading only not a specific subject descriptor. This will be used for browsing systems (Yahoo-type categories) and other circumstances where only a broad heading is needed.
Best Practice	Value to be taken from wither framework-specifi or organisation specific taxonomy.
Open Questions	Coincides with the proposed DC-Lib Subject¦Classification refinement. Prefer 'Category' as 'Classification' implies an alphanumeric code.

Subject

Name	Subject ¦ Keyword
Label	Subject ¦ Keyword
Choice of Namespace:	?
DC Encoding Scheme(s)	-
DC-Gov Encoding Scheme(s)	-
DC Definition
DC Comment
DC-Gov Definition	Term describing the specific subject of the resource
DC-Gov Comment	Entry would contain the subject to be found at the lowest level of granularity available in a controlled vocabulary or thesaurus and descriptive of the xubject matter of the resource.
Best Practice	Term from a thesaurus or similar controlled vocabulary.
Open Questions	Coincides with the proposed DC-Lib Subject¦Keyword.Requires a specific subject descriptor rather than broad heading. Will be used to aid the mapping of multiple thesauri.

Title

Name	Title
Label	Title
Choice of Namespace:	DCMES version 1.1
DC Refinement(s)	Alternative
DC-Gov Refinement(s)	Alternative
DC Encoding Scheme(s)	-
DC-Gov Encoding Scheme(s)	-
Form of Obligation	M
DC Definition	A name given to the resource.
DC Comment	Typically, a title will be a name by which the resource is formally known.
DC-Gov Definition	-
DC-Gov Comment	For alternative title add any form of the title used as a substitute or alternative to the formal title of the resource, including abbreviations.
Best Practice	Drop initial articles if present
Open Questions

Type

Name	Type
Label	Resource Type
Choice of Namespace:	DCMES version 1.1
DC Refinement(s)	-
DC-Gov Refinement(s)	See below
DC Encoding Scheme(s)	DCMI Type
DC-Gov Encoding Scheme(s)	see below
Form of Obligation	R
DC Definition	The nature or genre of the content of the resource.
DC Comment	Type includes terms describing general categories, functions, genres, or aggregation levels for content. Recommended best practice is to select a value from a controlled vocabulary. To describe the physical or digital manifestation of the resource, use the Format element.
DC-Gov Definition	-
DC-Gov Comment	-
Best Practice	Use a controlled list and identify the source with encoding scheme.
Open Questions	Do we accept the Type element in an unqualified form?

 

Name	Type ¦ AggregationLevel
Label	Type ¦ Aggregation Level
Choice of Namespace:	?
DC Encoding Scheme(s)	-
DC-Gov Encoding Scheme(s)	Collection; Dossier; Item
Form of Obligation	R
DC Definition
DC Comment
DC-Gov Definition	A resource type may be an aggregation of instances of another resource type.
DC-Gov Comment	This element allows searches to be restricted to records at a particular level of aggregation. It also controls the management actions which may be taken on the record(s). It should be worked in conjunction with Relation¦HasPart. This refinement describes where in the collection hierachy, if anywhere, a resource sits; the relation indicates what, if any other resources also belong in that hierachy. Note that it is possible for a 'Folder' or 'collection' level description to exist for a resource which is empty, i.e. it contains no parts. In this instance the HasPart relation would not indicate the level. Nor is it possible to limit a search by Level by using HasPart. The entry indicates the level of aggregation.
Best Practice
Open Questions

 

Name	Type ¦ DossierType
Label	Type ¦ Dossier Type
Choice of Namespace:	?
DC Encoding Scheme(s)	-
DC-Gov Encoding Scheme(s)
Form of Obligation	R
DC Definition
DC Comment	A number of items gathered together into one container or folder.
DC-Gov Definition	Classification of the dossier or collection.
DC-Gov Comment	An example encoding scheme (as used by UK) is Policy; Case; Parliamentary Question; Ministers Case.
Best Practice
Open Questions

Name	Type ¦ ItemType
Label	Type ¦ ItemType
Choice of Namespace:	?
DC Encoding Scheme(s)	-
DC-Gov Encoding Scheme(s)
Form of Obligation	R
DC Definition
DC Comment
DC-Gov Definition	Classification of the item, file or document.
DC-Gov Comment
Best Practice
Open Questions	Should we develop a DC-Gov Type encoding scheme that covers specifically governmental Types such as Parliamentary Questions, Ministerial Correspondence etc?