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Basic Technical IVT Commonly tested

Metadata enrichment

noun

Pronunciation: /ˈmetəˌdeɪtə ɪnˈrɪtʃmənt/

The process of enhancing bibliographic records by adding supplementary information such as subject headings, abstracts, author affiliations, or enhanced descriptions. This improves searchability, discoverability, and contextual value of library resources.

Plain English

Adding extra information to library records like summaries and keywords to make them easier to find and understand.

Etymology & History

Origin languageEnglish
Rootmetadata (Greek meta- + data) + enrichment (Old French enrichir)
First recorded use1990s
Usage frequencyCommon

Usage

"The cataloging team performed metadata enrichment by adding detailed abstracts and subject classifications to historical digitized documents."

Style guide notes: Hyphenate as 'metadata-enrichment' when used as a modifier before nouns.

Also known as

record enhancement metadata augmentation bibliographic enrichment

Contrasted with

metadata stripping record minimization

Related Terms

Frequently Asked Questions

What is metadata enrichment?

Adding extra descriptive information like abstracts, keywords, and subjects to library records for better searching.

Who performs metadata enrichment?

Catalogers, metadata librarians, and specialized vendors using automated tools or manual processes.

Why Test Candidates on This?

Important for evaluating cataloging quality, discovery effectiveness, and resource description standards.

Required skill level: Mid

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