Metadata For The Terrified

I think I could probably be a case study in a book called Metadata For The Terrified. Or Metadata For Dummies.
Over the last week or two I’ve been coming to terms with how the DSpace metadata works and relates to the input submissions form – the metadata is pretty good, I like how DSpace lets you add fields using a web form, but the submissions page is pretty dismal, IMHO. Using an idea from Mahendra in UKOLN, I’ve written out a spreadsheet listing which fields are needed for which item and come to the resounding conclusion that we need to customise the submission form to deposit by item type. A big ask, apparently, although some good examples out there, such as Hasselt University, who presented on submission based on document type at the DSpace User Group meeting in Rome in October.
Yes, I know, ePrints does this nicely. Point taken.

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