D3. Difficulty locating metadata

Situation Definition:

A situation that arises from difficulty in finding the metadata for a DL item.

Factor(s) Leading to the Situation:

• • Inadequate support:
    metadata visibility: tooltip
    

Guideline or Design Recommendation:

1. 1. Offer a quick and easy way to find each element of the
      metadata: tooltip
      for an
      item: tooltip
      
   2. Offer a quick and easy way to identify each element of the metadata for an item

Rationale and Objective:

Metadata: tooltip
is not the content itself, but rather descriptive information about the content. It may include information about the type, subject, author, place, etc. Sometimes metadata is placed far away from a page title, which makes it difficult for
BVI: tooltip
users to locate. The design of a DL may inform users that metadata is available by providing a link or by placing the metadata directly below the page title. Providing a header for the metadata section will help BVI users locate it.

Techniques and Methods:

1.1. Present
metadata: tooltip
directly below or near the item
1.2. Provide an internal link to a metadata section if metadata cannot be placed close to the
item: tooltip

1.3. Use heading tags for the metadata section
2.1. Provide consistent
labels: tooltip
for metadata elements throughout a DL
2.2. Provide
alt text: tooltip
for the definition of each element of metadata

Recommended Features:

1.2. Internal links (See example 1.2)
1.3. Section headings (See example 1.3)
2.1. Consistent
labels: tooltip
(See example 2.1)
2.2. 
Alt text : tooltip
(See examples 2.2.a and 2.2.b)

Examples:

1.2. Internal link: Good design

When a user clicks “View Description”, it leads to the Metadata section directly.

1.3. Section headings: Good design

March on Milwaukee uses a heading tag for section heading of metadata (Item Description).

2.1. Consistent labels: Good design

Labels of each metadata element have been applied consistently.

2.2.a. Alt Text: Good design

Alt text is provided for the image so that BVI users know what this image is about, including what, when, and where.

2.2.b. Alt Text: Bad design

No alt text is provided on the image so that BVI users do not know what the image is about.

Related Resources:

1. 1. Minnesota Historical Society. (2012). Electronic Records Management Guidelines. Retrieved from http://www.mnhs.org/preserve/records/electronicrecords/ermetadata.php

See Also:

Help-seeking Situations > D. Difficulty locating specific information, items, or features