Data Sources

Overview

The DCMI Timeline data has been compiled from multiple authoritative sources to create a comprehensive record of Dublin Core Metadata Initiative’s history. This page documents the primary sources used and provides transparency about data collection and verification.

Primary Sources

Official DCMI Resources

Conference Proceedings

• DC Conference Series: Official proceedings from annual Dublin Core conferences (DC-1995 through DC-2024)
  • Available at: dcpapers.dublincore.org
  • Includes peer-reviewed papers, presentations, and workshop reports
  • Documented attendance, locations, and themes

DCMI Website

• Official Documentation: dublincore.org
  • Conference announcements and reports
  • Organizational updates and press releases
  • Standards documentation and specifications

Specifications and Standards

• DCMI Metadata Terms: Official vocabulary specifications
• DCMI Abstract Model: Architectural documentation
• Application Profiles: Domain-specific implementation guides
• Usage Guides: Best practices and implementation documentation

Academic Publications

Journal Articles

• Published research on Dublin Core applications and implementations
• Metadata theory and practice papers
• Digital library and information science journals
• Conference proceedings from related fields

Books and Monographs

• Stuart Weibel’s historical accounts
• Diane Hillmann’s implementation guides
• Thomas Baker’s technical documentation
• Rachel Heery’s research publications

Historical Documentation

Workshop Reports

• Dublin Workshop (1995): Original invitational workshop documentation
• Warwick Workshop (1996): Warwick Framework development
• Early Workshops: Canberra, Helsinki, Frankfurt, and other formative meetings

Email Archives

• DC-General mailing list archives
• Working group communications
• Community discussions and decision-making records

Meeting Minutes

• DCMI Advisory Board meetings
• Usage Board proceedings
• Working group reports

Secondary Sources

Organizational Records

Membership Records

• Institutional member announcements
• Corporate sponsorship documentation
• Partnership agreements and collaborations

Governance Documents

• Bylaws and organizational structure
• Board composition and leadership changes
• Policy decisions and strategic plans

Community Contributions

Personal Histories

• Stuart Weibel: “Reflections on the Original Dublin Core Workshop”
• Personal accounts from founding members
• Oral history interviews
• Blog posts and retrospectives

Regional Documentation

• European DCMI activities (Europeana integration)
• Asia-Pacific regional meetings
• Latin American implementations
• African digital library initiatives

Related Standards Organizations

Cross-References with Partner Organizations

W3C (World Wide Web Consortium)

• RDF specifications
• Semantic Web initiatives
• SKOS development
• Schema.org collaboration

ISO (International Organization for Standardization)

• ISO 15836: Dublin Core standard
• Related metadata standards
• International adoption documentation

IETF (Internet Engineering Task Force)

• RFC specifications for metadata
• URI/IRI specifications
• Protocol development

Data Verification Process

Methodology

1. Cross-Referencing: Each event verified against multiple sources when possible
2. Date Validation: Conference dates confirmed from official proceedings
3. Location Verification: City/country information validated from conference materials
4. Attribution: Key participants and organizations documented from official records
5. Citation: Primary sources cited for each event entry

Quality Control

• Events marked with source attribution (created_by field)
• References included in event metadata
• Ongoing community review and corrections
• Regular updates as new information becomes available

Citation Format

When citing this timeline:

DCMI Timeline Project. (2024). Dublin Core Metadata Initiative Timeline.
Retrieved from https://dublincore.github.io/dc-timeline/

For specific events, use the individual event pages with their unique URLs.

Contributing Sources

How to Submit Sources

If you have additional sources or corrections:

1. Official Documents: Conference proceedings, organizational records, or published standards
2. Personal Records: Photographs, presentations, or documentation from events
3. Corrections: Updates to existing event information with source citations
4. New Events: Significant milestones not yet documented

Contribution Guidelines

• Provide complete citation information
• Include URLs for online resources
• Specify the type of source (primary/secondary)
• Include context for the information
• Note any permissions or copyright considerations

Frequently Asked Questions

How often is the timeline updated?

The timeline is updated regularly as new events occur and as historical information is discovered or corrected.

How can I verify specific information?

Each event page includes references to source materials. Click through to the original sources for verification.

What if I find an error?

Please submit a correction with source citation. We welcome community input to improve accuracy.

Are all DCMI events included?

We aim for comprehensive coverage but focus on significant milestones. Minor workshops or meetings may be combined or summarized.

Data Access

Available Formats

The timeline data is available in multiple formats:

• Web Interface: Interactive timeline at this website
• JSON: Structured data export (available in site output)
• RSS Feed: Subscribe to new events and updates

Reuse and Licensing

Timeline data compiled from public sources is available for educational and research use. Please cite this project when using the data. Individual source materials retain their original copyrights and licenses.

Acknowledgments

Data Contributors

• YHK: Primary data compilation and organization
• DCMI Community: Historical knowledge and verification
• Conference Organizers: Proceedings and documentation
• Researchers: Published analyses and histories

Source Archives

Special thanks to organizations maintaining digital archives:

• DCMI for preserving conference proceedings
• Academic institutions hosting repositories
• Digital library projects documenting metadata history

Contact

For questions about data sources or to contribute information:

• Visit: dublincore.org
• Review the GitHub repository for this project
• Contact the DCMI community

This data sources page is maintained as part of the DCMI Timeline project and is updated regularly.