Metadata and Dissemination

Twinning project in BiH:Metadata Training

Metadata and Dissemination

Katja Šnuderl

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Overview

Trends in data dissemination How relevant and how useful are

metadata?

PC-Axis as a structured metadata model

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Current trends

Shift from print to electronic dissemination

Communicate instead of disseminate

User friendliness Layering Content management systems

(CMS) Translation to English

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Paper vs. Web

Long texts are appropriate

No one reads more than a few lines

Size of tables limited by the paper format

No technical limitations

Fixed table structure User selects data and designs tables

Methodological explanations as free text

Structured metadata

Quoting or re-writing Contextual linking

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Archive Print and take No internet Libraries ! Coherence

more workload for data producers, structured metadata help avoiding most of duplication

Paper AND Web

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Disseminate vs. communicate

To disseminate - ‘scatter about, spread (especially ideas) widely’

Pocket Oxford Dictionary

Disseminate = provide data to public, "take it or leave it"

Communicate = user-oriented approach, "get it and use it"

experiences + feedback

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User friendliness

Constrains of search engines search keywords as metadata

Cognitive perception – learning by using stable structure

Usability tests, customer satisfaction surveys

Personalization

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Layering

Content metadata Methodological explanations

Content Detail Time

Common structure enables query linking

Crosscutting (key indicators) User metadata

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Content Management SystemProvides: Structured templates Controlled workflow Re-usability

Needs to be efficient: Process metadata Content metadata User training (process + content)

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Metadata shopping list Classifications: common use,

descriptions, special notes Process: input source, output

form, dates, persons (prepare, approve, contact)

Content: common descriptions, particularities

Restrictions: confidentiality rules, registered users access, download

Users: monitor hits, requests, comments, register users

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"Left outside" the system

News releases – comments on trends and current developments

Ad-hoc publications Ad-hoc tables for advanced users

Try to document them within the metadata system

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Elements of a data release at SORS Title (content + time period) Summary Commentary Summary tables Charts Attachments Links

Database list Methodological explanations Questionnaires Release calendar

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What is PC-Axis?

File format, a tool, de-facto standard

Started as a solution for census data presentation (Sweden)

Continued to develop and be used world-wide (~40 countries and organisations)

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Why do we use it? Tailored for statistics

Helps us learn and identify some common standards in dissemination

Format itself is not so relevant as long as it is standardized at the corporate level

PC-Axis reference group able to upgrade to any new dissemination standard

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PC-Axis basics

Files or databases Data + structured metadata

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How does PC-Axis work? SQL database or files Files serve better for less detailed

tables, easier implementation, can be later migrated to database

SQL database needs common metadata and provides more functionalities for more detailed tables

Different input data formats Re-usability of metadata Different tools for data preparing and

data visualisation

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What does it look like? Let's see…

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Conclusions Metadata influence quality of

dissemination perception Implementing a metadata

information system helps optimizing process and structuring information for users

Users learn by doing, therefore it is important to respect common standards and trends

There are several output database formats on the market, PC-Axis is one of the options to use

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Contact details

Katja Šnuderl

Electronic Dissemination and International Reporting Department

Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia

Vožarski pot 12

1000 Ljubljana

[email protected]

Tel. +386 1 2415 155