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By Sunday Adepoju
A library and information science expert, Dr. Alfred Michael Obaje, has emphasised the need for stronger metadata interoperability to enhance knowledge organisation and access in libraries, particularly in the digital age.
Obaje made this known in his scholarly paper titled “Metadata Standards and Interoperability for Knowledge Organisation in Libraries,” a chapter in a festschrift published in honour of Dr. Samuel Oke Ogunniyi, the immediate past Polytechnic Librarian of the Federal Polytechnic, Ayede.
The author, a staff of the University Library, Federal University of Technology, Minna, highlighted that achieving effective metadata interoperability remains a complex task due to technical, semantic, organisational, and social challenges.
According to him, one of the major recommendations is the need to address the diversity and complexity of metadata standards, schemas, formats, and protocols across different systems and domains.
He noted that inconsistencies in these elements often hinder seamless integration and data exchange.
Obaje further stressed the importance of resolving semantic and syntactic differences in metadata elements, values, and vocabularies, warning that such conflicts could distort the meaning and interpretation of data.
The scholar also called for stronger collaboration among stakeholders.
He noted that institutions and partners often operate with differing goals, policies, and practices.
He said coordinated efforts are essential for effective metadata creation, management, and usage.
He emphasised the need to ensure the quality, reliability, and sustainability of metadata systems, especially as technologies and information services continue to evolve over time.
Obaje advised institutions to carefully balance the costs and benefits of implementing metadata interoperability frameworks, ensuring that solutions remain practical and beneficial for diverse users and purposes.
The paper is an academic contribution in “Knowledge Organisation and Management in Libraries and Information Centres in the Digital Age,” a publication celebrating Dr. Ogunniyi’s contributions to librarianship, including his service at the Federal Polytechnic, Ayede, and his role at Adeyemi Federal University of Education, Ondo State.
Obaje maintained that improving metadata interoperability would significantly enhance cross-searching, data sharing, and integration across library systems which, according to the research, ultimately makes information more accessible for education, research, and cultural preservation.
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