Metadata & Databases

This week in our reading we talked about metadata and databases. Metadata is data that almost describes other data, but not the actual information and content that the other data talks about. As put in the book, it is "information used to describe data, objects, or records" (pg.53). Some examples of simple metadata is the author, date that the data was created, and the location of something when talking about a photograph. All of these forms of metadata are very useful in the DH world today. They provide numerous ways to better organize data and help when managing large amounts of data that need to be categorized. Without it, properly analyzing and handling data would be very difficult. How would we be able to reference a photo or quote without knowing the author? Databases on the other hand, could arguably be talked about as larger forms of metadata. Databases are essentially one group or collection of data that can be accessed online. Their role is to take any types of data, unstructured or structured, and compile it into one area that can be easily managed and easily used. Both of these terms are very relevant to our projects that we have been working on. First, we need metadata to be able to properly use outside information and the data from our websites. We need to be able to cite documents if they are being used. Also, if using a picture you want to be able to tell where the picture was taken, when it was taken, and most likely who took it. All of these aspects that are being listed are necessary forms of metadata. In my project, I am looking into an archive of a famous writer named Willa Cather. The website I am using is filled with a variety of writings, documents, photos, timelines, and parts of her life. To efficiently form a project I need to be able to utilize data and know how I am using it and how it applies to Cather's life. It is very important that I am aware of dates, which metadata allows me to see. It is also crucial that I use databases such as spreadsheets and files to organize the data I want to present in my project since there is so much of it. Both terms are very important in the advancement of DH and technology as a whole. If they were not created, it would be very difficult to use so much of the data we talk about everyday. Lots of significant historical data would almost be impossible to use and might have never been discovered.