Re: Fwd: [MODS] MADS: XML schema for authorities

MacKenzie Smith wrote:

> 
> FYI -- this is possibly relevant to the work on name matching since much 
> of the name data comes from MARC name authority records, and this new 
> XML schema is a substitute for that format. It's still XML, but it 
> should make conversion to RDF a lot more straightforward if it's adopted 
> for the big name authority files like the Library of Congresses.

Not sure how "straight forward" this could be.

I've looked at the schema and it's a very general one, it's used to 
encode a bunch of things with the same exact elements and all the 
semantic information is encoded in attribute values.

For example:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<mads xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"
       xsi:noNamespaceSchemaLocation="/mads-v.3.xsd">
	<authority>
	  <topic authority="LCSH">Computer programming</topic>
	</authority>
	<refs>
	  <ref relatedType="broader">
		<topic>Computers</topic>
	  </ref>
	  <ref relatedType="narrower">
		<topic>Programming languages</topic>
	  </ref>
	  <ref relatedType="otherRelated">
		<topic>Systems Analysis</topic>
	  </ref>
	</refs>
</mads>

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<mads xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"
       xsi:noNamespaceSchemaLocation="/mads-v.3.xsd">
	<authority>
	   <geographic authority="naf">Ceylon</geographic>
	</authority>
	<refs>
	   <ref relatedType="later">
		<geographic>Sri Lanka</geographic>
	   </ref>
	</refs>
</mads>

All the semantics is in the attribute values relatedType="" and 
authority="".

relatedType="" values are constrolled by the schema, but the attribute 
itself is optional.

authority="" values are *not* controlled by the schema and the attribute 
is optional.

Converting this schema to a useful RDF is algorithmically impossible 
since too much information is kept implicit and/or optional.

The only graph topology that can be inferred from this MADS schema is 
that some literals have some sort of relationship with others (optinally 
labelled) and that this relationship is optionally backed up by a literal.

If all the attributes were required and all the attributes value were 
controlled and restricted by the schema, then the migration could be 
straightforward.

HTH

> MacKenzie
> 
>> Date:         Fri, 4 Jun 2004 09:34:04 -0400
>> Reply-To: Metadata Object Description Schema List <MODS@loc.gov>
>> From: "Rebecca S. Guenther" <rgue@loc.gov>
>> Subject: [MODS] MADS: XML schema for authorities
>>
>> In response to numerous requests, the Library of Congress' Network
>> Development and MARC Standards Office has drafted an XML schema for an
>> authority element set that may be used to provide metadata about agents
>> (people, organizations), events, and terms (topics, geographics, genres,
>> etc.).  This Metadata Authority Description Schema (MADS) was created to
>> serve as a companion to the Metadata Object Description Schema (MODS).
>> As such, MADS has a relationship to the MARC 21 Authority format, as MODS
>> has to MARC 21 Bibliographic-- both carry selected data from MARC 21.
>> There is a high level of compatibility between the MADS and MODS schemas.
>> MADS is expressed using the XML schema language of the World Wide Web
>> Consortium.  Note that once the schema is finalized, a few changes may be
>> made to MODS for consistency. An example is that MADS uses the term
>> "event" instead of "conference".
>>
>> The MADS draft schema is now available for broad review to inform its
>> completion. Based on input from prospective users, the schema will be
>> revised and made available for experimentation. The review period will be
>> between June 4 and July 16, 2004.
>>
>> The Web site is at:
>> http://www.loc.gov/mads
>> Included is the XML schema itself, a document describing the purpose of
>> MADS and details about definitions of the most important elements, and an
>> outline of elements and attributes. A mapping to the MARC 21 Authority
>> Format will be available shortly.
>>
>> We look forward to comments from prospective users about this new schema.
>>
>> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>> ^^  Rebecca S. Guenther                                   ^^
>> ^^  Senior Networking and Standards Specialist            ^^
>> ^^  Network Development and MARC Standards Office         ^^
>> ^^  1st and Independence Ave. SE                          ^^
>> ^^  Library of Congress                                   ^^
>> ^^  Washington, DC 20540-4402                             ^^
>> ^^  (202) 707-5092 (voice)    (202) 707-0115 (FAX)        ^^
>> ^^  rgue@loc.gov                                          ^^
>> ^^                                                        ^^
>> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

-- 
Stefano.

Received on Saturday, 5 June 2004 06:18:56 UTC