The least common denominator does not satisfy user’s needs: metadata schemes for digital audio archives

Abstract

This paper examines what metadata schemes are needed for radio material using the example of the LARM project. Based on several user studies in 2011, a metadata scheme has been implemented, which consists of three layers: archival metadata, LARM metadata and project-specific metadata. In late 2013 follow-up online interviews assessed the adoption of the metadata schemes and users’ understanding of the underlying philosophy. The interviews showed two things: first, despite being involved in building the scheme up, participants used the current metadata scheme on a trial and error basis and did rarely understand the underlying philosophy. Secondly, participants showed a surprisingly high accountability working with metadata meaning that archive providers should worry less about misuse of metadata and instead embrace user participation.