Metadata: A Cataloger’s Primer is edited by Richard Smiraglia, a noted expert on knowledge organization. Smiraglia states in the introduction that the purpose of this text is to “provide a learning resource about metadata for catalog librarians and students” (1). While this may seem like an audience that has very different interests, this book is directed at practitioners with limited or no experience with metadata schemas and related concepts, as well as neophytes. The book is divided into two parts: part 1 is titled “Intellectual Foundations” and consists of articles that introduce metadata concepts and applications; part 2 is titled “How to Create, Apply, and Use Metadata,” and covers Dublin Core, Extensible-Markup Language (XML), Encoded Archival Description (EAD), and the Metadata Encoding and Transmission Standard (METS).

Part 1 provides an overview of introductory and theoretical material and original research, and includes contributions by Jane Greenberg and Lynne Howarth. Part 2 serves as an instruction manual and cites a number of metadata texts that are widely used. Smiraglia suggests that readers consult them as a point of reference. It should be noted that the cited texts are dated from 1999 through 2004. Metadata applications and practices are continually evolving, and information quickly becomes outdated. The cited texts are perhaps useful for background and historical perspective, but have limited usefulness in the current environment.

Smiraglia’s introduction is inclusive and covers markup languages, various metadata schemas (Cataloging-in-Publication, Text Encoding Initiative, Dublin Core, the Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules, and MARC21). The chapters in part 1 are lengthy and cover metadata and bibliographic control in extensive detail. There is some overlap in concepts and examples between these chapters. Part 1 includes metadata applications in a health care agency and an analysis of Etruscan artifacts in an archeology museum. Both are interesting departures from the typical library and archive applications of metadata.

Part 2 is a hands-on guide to creating and applying metadata. The chapters in this part of the book include contributions by recognized metadata experts Anita Coleman, Patrick Yott, and Michael Chopey. Coleman’s chapter addresses use of Dublin Core records for the library catalog and is a bit dated. Dublin Core is required for participation in the Open Archives Initiative-Protocol for Metadata Harvesting (OAI-PMH), yet is only one choice of metadata schema used by libraries. Many libraries use metadata from a variety of schemas, or prefer richer descriptive schemas such as the Metadata Object Description Schema (MODS) or Metadata for Images in XML Schema (MIX).

The introduction to Coleman’s chapter notes “Professional positions like Metadata Architect and Metadata Librarian are increasingly common… . Some libraries are even replacing job titles such as Cataloger with them” (154). This has become the norm as there are numerous metadata cataloger positions and many departments that provide bibliographic description and access have been renamed as Cataloging and Metadata to reflect the range of their work. Her explanation of metadata elements and examples is helpful and will be useful to librarians who use Dublin Core. The appendix to her chapter includes a metadata-creation form that is quite long. It is not clear whether this form is available online, which would make it much more useful to metadata creators than a print form.

Alexander Thurman’s chapter on metadata standards for archival control provides a concise overview of EAD and includes useful information in the appendix. The appendix contains a guide to a manuscript collection, a statement of collection scope, and index terms. The remainder of the appendix is devoted to a sample EAD record, which will be useful to those wishing to use this schema or to learn about it.

Patrick Yott’s introduction to XML is a refreshing departure from how chapters in this type of text are typically written. He provides an overview of XML in easy-to-understand language and illustrates with examples that cite pop music legends Robert Fripp and Brian Eno. Part 2 concludes with chapters by Linda Cantara on METS and Michael Chopey on how to plan and implement a metadata-driven digital repository. While both chapters are well written, the authors have approached their topics differently. Cantara’s chapter is streamlined and narrowly focused on METS. Chopey’s is extensive and examines the steps and processes necessary for planning and implementing a repository.

One of the main drawbacks of this book is that it was published in 2005 and has limited utility in 2008. Metadata applications and concepts have greatly evolved over the last three years. Most people in librarianship have been exposed to metadata in some context, whether as a user or as a participant in a digital project. There are numerous texts on metadata, as well as classes and groups devoted to various aspects of metadata (e.g., collection development, metadata creation, and digital preservation). This text is helpful as an introduction to metadata, yet some of the concepts and ideas presented in it are dated and may not be relevant to current standards.