The IUB Libraries is starting a new "Metadata Discussion Group," which will meet monthly to discuss an article relating to a current metadata topic. The group has no formal "membership" – discussions are open to anyone from the Libraries, SLIS, or elsewhere on campus who is interested in the topic under discussion. Come join us for lively collaborative conversation about diverse topics in metadata, both broad and detailed. A citation for the article to be discussed will be distributed two weeks before each Metadata Discussion Group meeting, to give participants time to read articles prior to the group discussion.

Metadata Discussion Group sessions are scheduled for the last Tuesday of the month, from 10-11 AM, in the Wells Library Staff Lounge, 3rd floor East tower. The first meeting will be November 27, 2007. The topic for this meeting will be "What is metadata and why is it important to me?" A citation to a specific article covering this topic will be distributed soon. At the November meeting we will also discuss possible future topics for Metadata Discussion group sessions.

Announcements for Metadata Discussion Group meetings will be widely distributed; however, we have also created a dedicated email list for the group. This list will provide a forum for more detailed information about the group, and communication between those interested in its activities. To join the email list, send the following in the body of an message (not the subject) to listserv@indiana.edu:

subscribe metadata-discuss-l

The Metadata Discussion Group is sponsored by the IUB Libraries Technical Services Advisory Council (TSAC). Comments, questions, or ideas for discussion topics or articles can be sent to Jenn Riley, Metadata Librarian, at jenlrile@indiana.edu or the chair of the TSAC, Lynda Clendenning, at lfclende@indiana.edu.

More information on the Metadata Discussion Group can be found at <http://www.dlib.indiana.edu/services/metadata/activities/mdg.shtml>.

Jenn Riley, Metadata Librarian
Lynda Clendenning, Chair, Technical Services Advisory Council