Using web logs transactions to assess a metadata registry system's use: The case of MetaForm

摘要

Purpose - MetaForm is a database that hosts metadata element sets, descriptions and guidelines for their use. It is the focal point of the Metadata Server at SUB Goettingen for anyone who is using metadata to describe networked resources or would like to familiarise themselves with metadata element sets, in particular Dublin Core, and their application. This paper proposes to present findings on the use of the MetaForm metadata registry system based on data from web logs transactions. It aims to broaden understanding of how metadata registries are used, particularly as indicated by their own users. Design/methodology/approach - The paper analyses web log transactions of more than six years (1 July 1998 to 10 November 2004). The focus of this paper is in three areas: use presented on a daily, monthly and yearly basis; (trends in use (increasing/decreasing) over a period of more than six years; and users of the metadata registry system as shown through the domain and directory reports. Findings - Presents the daily, monthly and yearly use of MetaForm. Shows trends in its use for a period of over six years and identifies some of the metadata registry's users and the information they seek (as shown in the directory reports). Research limitations/implications - Owing to the file format of the web log transactions, results are presented as average values rather than actual access numbers. Originality/value - This paper is a first assessment of its kind of the use of an active metadata registry system, as recorded through web log transactions. The aim of this research is to enhance the understanding of the use and application of MetaForm and therefore metadata registry systems in general.