A metadata framework for cloud-based digital archives using METS with PREMIS

Abstract

An increasing number of organizations are using cloud computing to create and store digital records. To ensure safe storage and long-term preservation, standards for metadata are needed. This paper proposes a metadata application profile for cloud archives. We use guidelines from the Singapore Framework for Dublin Core Application Profiles to define the functional requirements, domain model and description set profile that form the basis of the proposed application profile. In our profile, we use METS as a transmission and package format, extending it with metadata from the PREMIS data dictionary and Dublin Core Metadata Element Set. Using the proposed application profile, we create an example METS information package using predefined criteria. We find that the profile meets the functional requirements, and that it simplifies metadata provision for business systems, compared to systems that do not allow pre-registration. © 2011 Springer-Verlag.