11 Description

A description is a summary of, account of, or introduction to the resource you are creating metadata for.

Questions to Consider When Creating a Description

• How much information will my users need from a description? What is most important for them to know? How much time will they spend reading the description? What is important for them to learn by exploring the resource and what is important to know before they explore a resource or a collection of resources?
• How much detail should I or can I put into a description? How will my description affect my user’s interpretation and use of the resource I am creating metadata for?
• How much time do I have to write a description?
• Is there already a description with the resource? Is that description helpful for my users or should I create my own?

Description Examples

• The summary on the back of a book
• The caption underneath a photograph in a newspaper
• A brief summary of an oral history interview