Metadata schema

Like DOIs, IGSN IDs are registered with metadata encoded in the DataCite Metadata Schema. The metadata schema is a list of the key metadata properties selected for accurate and consistent identification of a resource for citation and retrieval purposes.

DataCite metadata primarily supports citation and discovery of data; it is not intended to supplant or replace the discipline or community specific metadata that fully describes the data, and that is vital for understanding and reuse.

Note

All IGSN registrations are based on the DataCite Metadata Schema 4.5. You can find more information at https://schema.datacite.org/ and in the IGSN ID Metadata Recommendations.

It is recommended to provide metadata (also) in English if possible. The DataCite metadata schema supports language attributes for core properties.

Properties

This section introduces the properties you can use in the metadata scheme. For a detailed overview of these properties and their sub-properties, refer to the DataCite property overview. General recommendations for IGSN ID metadata can be found in DataCite’s IGSN ID Metadata Recommendations.

Mandatory properties

The mandatory information required for registration includes:

ID	Name	Description
-	URL	The URL of the landing page.
1	Identifier	The IGSN identifier.
2	Creator	Creator (with optional nameIdentifiers and affiliation sub-properties). The property contains a list of the main researcher(s) involved, in priority order. For IGSN IDs, this could be the sample collector/creator, chief scientist, curator, or even the person who deposited the sample into a repository.
3	Title	Title (with optional sub-property titleType). The title property should include appropriate elements that would help find and distinguish a sample. The exact syntax is at the discretion of the IGSN ID registrant. The titleType subproperty is used when more than a single title is provided. Unless otherwise indicated by titleType, a title is considered to be the main title. Allowed title types are AlternativeTitle, Subtitle, TranslatedTitle and Other.
4	Publisher	The entity that holds, archives, publishes prints, distributes, releases, issues, or produces the resource. For IGSN registrations at Kiel University, this will always default to: {"name": "Kiel University", "schemeUri": "https://ror.org/", "publisherIdentifier": "https://ror.org/04v76ef78", "publisherIdentifierScheme": "ROR"}
5	PublicationYear	The year when the sample was first made available to the research community. This is likely to be the year at the time the physical sample is registered unless the sample was released before registration of its metadata record.

Recommended properties

It’s highly recommended to add more details or information, e.g.:

ID	Name	Description
6	Subject	Subject (with sub-property subjectScheme).
7	Contributor	Contributor (with the sub-properties contributorType, nameIdentifiers and affiliation). If the property is used, then contributorType is mandatory. Allowed contributor types are ContactPerson, DataCollector, DataCurator, DataManager, Distributor, Editor, HostingInstitution, Producer, ProjectLeader, ProjectManager, ProjectMember, RegistrationAgency, RegistrationAuthority, RelatedPerson, Researcher, ResearchGroup, RightsHolder, Sponsor, Supervisor, WorkPackageLeaderand Other.
8	Date	Date (with sub-property dateType). Format: YYYY, YYYY-MM-DD, YYYY- MM-DDThh:mm:ssTZD or any other format described in W3CDTF22. Use RKMS-ISO860123 standard for depicting date ranges. Allowed date types are Accepted, Available, Copyrighted, Collected, Created, Issued, Submitted, Updated, Valid, Withdrawn and Other.
12	RelatedIdentifier	Related identifier (with sub-properties relatedIdentifierType and relationType). Allowed related identifier types are IsCitedBy, Cites, IsSupplementTo, IsSupplementedBy, IsContinuedBy, Continues, IsDescribedBy, Describes, HasMetadata, IsMetadataFor, HasVersion, IsVersionOf, IsNewVersionOf, IsPreviousVersionOf, IsPartOf, HasPart, IsPublishedIn, IsReferencedBy, References, IsDocumentedBy, Documents, IsCompiledBy, Compiles, IsVariantFormOf, IsOriginalFormOf, IsIdenticalTo, IsReviewedBy, Reviews, IsDerivedFrom, IsSourceOf, IsRequiredBy, Requires, IsObsoletedBy and Obsoletes.
17	Description	Description (with sub-property descriptionType). Allowed description types are Abstract, Methods, SeriesInformation, TableOfContents, TechnicalInfo and Other.
18	GeoLocation	Geolocation (with sub-properties geoLocationPoint, geoLocationBox and geoLocationPolygon).

Optional properties

We currently only support one optional parameter:

ID	Name	Description
11	AlternateIdentifier	Alternate identifier (with sub-property type).