Adopting a Constructivist Grounded Theory Method, this thesis conducted in-depth interviews with 57 purposefully selected participants, comprised of practising librarians, researchers, metadata consultants and library users. The interview data was analysed using three stages of iterative data analysis: open coding, focused coding and theoretical coding. The analysis resulted in the emergence of four Core Categories, namely, metadata Enriching, Linking, Openness and Filtering. Further integration of the Core Categories resulted in the emergence of a theory of digital library metadata; The Theory of Metadata Enriching and Filtering. The theory stipulates that metadata that has been enriched, by melding standards-based (a priori) and socially-constructed (post-hoc) metadata, cannot be optimally utilised unless the resulting metadata is contextually and semantically linked to both internal and external information sources. Moreover, in order to exploit the full benefits of such linking, metadata must be made openly accessible, where it can be shared, re-used, mixed and matched, thus reducing metadata duplication. Ultimately, metadata that has been enriched (by linking and being made openly accessible) should be filtered for each user, via a flexible, personalised, and re-configurable interface. The theory provides a holistic framework demonstrating the interdependence between expert curated and socially-constructed metadata, wherein the former helps to structure the latter, whilst the latter provides diversity to the former. This theory also suggests a conceptual shift from the current metadata principle of sufficiency and necessity, which has resulted in metadata simplicity, to the principle of metadata enriching where information objects are described using a multiplicity of users’ perspectives (interpretations). Central to this theory is the consideration of users as pro-active metadata creators rather than mere consumers, whilst librarians are creators of a priori metadata and experts at providing structure, granularity, and interoperability to post-hoc metadata. The theory elegantly delineates metadata functions into two: enriching (metadata content) and filtering (interface). By providing underlying principles, this theory should enable standards-agencies, librarians, and systems developers to better address the changing needs of users as well as to adapt themselves to recent technological advances.

1. Getaneh Alemu (PhD)
October 2015

2.  ‘Data about data’
 Describes and locates information objects
 Provides context
 Enables the search-ability, browse-ability, find-ability and
management of information objects
 “The invisible hand” that enables effective information
organisation
 Metadata constitutes a central part of library functions
(Alemu, Stevens, Ross, & Chandler, 2012; Anderson, Delve, Pinchbeck, & Alemu, 2009; Day, 2001; Gartner,
2008; Lagoze, 2010; Nilsson, 2010; NISO, 2004; OCLC/RLG, 2001; Zeng & Qin, 2008)

3.  As library grow, of information
increases, changes and users’ expectations
change:
 Contemporary standards-based metadata approaches fail to
to adequately describe the semantic aspects of
information objects
 The of documents is missing (Otlet, 1934)
“In Otlet’s world each user would leave an imprint, a trail, which would
become part of the explicit history of each document” (Wright , 2007, p.190)
 Scant use of theories/theoretical frameworks in the inclusion
of socially-constructed metadata
(Coyle, 2010; Coyle & Hillmann, 2007; Lagoze, 2010; Mathes, 2004; Shirky, 2005;
Veltman, 2001; Weinberger, 2005, 2007; Wright, 2007)
(Lehmann, 2010; Andersen & Skouvig, 2006.; Floridi, 2000; Hjorland, 2000)

4. Developing a
Exploring the inclusion of
approaches
Inductively identify concepts
Identify principles
Develop framework

5.  Standards-based metadata approaches imply an
philosophical perspective
 Web 2.0 (socially-constructed) metadata approaches seem to
follow a philosophical perspective
 Cultural artefacts very often lend themselves to various
and contexts
Alemu, G., Stevens, B., Ross, P. (2012) Towards a conceptual framework for user-driven semantic metadata
interoperability in digital libraries: A social constructivist approach. New Library World. 113 (1/2), 38-54

6. : inductively developing
concepts/principles/theoretical framework/theories
 Theory rather than theory testing
 Simultaneous data collection and analysis
 Fitting for research areas
 Three approaches to grounded theory method
 Glaserian (Glaser & Strauss, 1967)
 Straussian (Strauss & Corbin, 1998)
(Charmaz, 2006)
Alemu, G., B. Stevens, P. Ross. (2012) Semantic metadata interoperability in digital libraries: a constructivist
grounded theory approach. Bulletin of IEEE Technical Committee on Digital Libraries. 8(1).

7.  Open-ended
 Exploratory
 11 in-depth interviews
 Library as a place
 Obsolescence of OPAC
 Standards-based versus
socially-constructed
metadata approaches
 Sluggish adoption of
Semantic Web
technologies
 Bridging cultural
differences through
metadata
 Collaboration and
metadata crowd sourcing
 The need for theoretical
foundations

11. Study No.
Interviewees
Study Total Number Profession Sub-total
Study One 11
LIS MSc Students 8
LIS PhD Student 1
LIS Lecturers 2
Study Two
21
Librarians 10
LIS Researchers 5
LIS Lecturers 2
Metadata
Consultants
4
Study Three 25
Under-graduate Students (BSC) 5
Post-graduate Students (MSc=4 & PhD=6) 10
Lecturers (other than LIS) 10
Total 57

12. Institution Number of
Interviewees
The British Library 3
Library of Congress 1
Harvard University 1
University of Portsmouth 3
University of Loughborough 1
Kings College London 1
University of South Australia 1
University of Bologna 1
University of Parma 1
University of Zimbabwe 1
University of North Texas 1
Queensland University of Technology 1
OCLC Online Computer Library Centre 1
University College London 1
Cloud of Data 1
2 consultants who are not affiliated to any organisation 2

27.  Reducing barriers to contribution
 Simplicity, interestingness and fun
 Re-findability
 Sense of ownership
 Own vocabularies
 Altruism and reputation
 Engaging with users

31. of users through
 Enables to match the growing collections with the assignment
of
 Metadata and (reflecting user
interpretations/terminologies/better conforming to
user requirements)
complement to the
of
 Metadata should be about the interface not
about the

32.  Granularly metadata
 Uniquely metadata
 Creating and facilitating links
 It brings
 It widens opportunities for

33.  Institutional and
 Facilitates metadata and
 Minimises or
 Flexible and open schemes

34. filtering
 Flexibility to and customise interface displays
catalogue views based on
 navigation

36.  From metadata to metadata ;
 From metadata to a where
augments expert-created metadata;
 From and to
( );
 From metadata to metadata;
 From metadata records to metadata ;
 From a (global) OPAC interface to
and user-friendly interfaces;
 From to through tag
clouding, metadata zeitgeist and faceted navigation.

37.  Methodological contribution
 A and
 Contribution to LIS field/metadata
 Emerging metadata principles
 A theoretical
 Inclusion of the of metadata through a
approach, partly addressing Otlet’s 1934 vision
of contemporary metadata
assumptions and principles
 Better reflects the (linguistic/cultural)
 It is argued that the findings well with the data; are , ‘
and interpretations but it is among other possible .