When libraries send FCLA content for loading and displaying to the public, they must also send information about the nature and structure of the materials digitized, and the physical characteristics of the files sent. This is done by creating and XML "wrapper" for digital files, called the Metadata Exchange Format, or MXF.
Advantages of the PALMM MXF include:
- Explicit processing information. The MXF allows the contributor to send explicit instructions to the processing programs, such as whether to generate additional formats of images, whether to create analytics by program, etc.
- Multiple options for contributing bibliographic information. Title-level bibliographic data can be taken from an external record (such as a NOTIS record) or included in Dublin Core tags in the MXF. Full Dublin Core information can also be recorded for any component part, such as articles or chapters.
- Unlimited hierarchy. The MXF can be used without change to represent an unlimited number of hierarchical levels.
- Detailed file information. The MXF allows the recording of extensive technical details about any physical file, including how and when it was created, its source, and its physical characteristics.
The PALMM MXF has this basic structure:
<packageDesc> Package description: Information about the contributed "package" of metadata and data files, such as the contributing institution and processing instructions.
<entityDesc> Entity description: title-level information about the entity (book, serial issues, collection, etc.) being contributed.
<div> Division: A logical component part within an entity, such as a part, chapter, issue or article. There can be any number of Division sections within an Entity, and lower-level Divisions can nested within higher-level Divisions (such as nesting articles within issues).
<file> File: information pertaining to a physical file, such as a TIFF image or SGML-encoded text. There can be any number of File sections within a Division.
The MXF is defined by an XML DTD. The MXF XML file, the MXF DTD, and all data files referenced by the MXF must all be included in the "package" (folder) sent to FCLA.
Revised 4/02 PLC