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MODS to Dublin Core Metadata Element Set Mapping Version 3

August 1, 2012

This mapping gives equivalencies between the elements in the Metadata Object Description Schema (MODS) and the Dublin Core Metadata Element Set, version 1.1 (unqualified Dublin Core) . Order of elements are according to the Dublin Core Metadata Element Set, version 1.1: Reference Description. The document may be used for converting a MODS record to Dublin Core. For instance, one application is to expose MODS records for OAI harvesting in Dublin Core syntax.

In some cases, multiple MODS elements are equivalent to one Dublin Core element, and all are listed. In these cases, some metadata is lost.

MODS elements are linked to top-level elements in the Outline of Elements and Attributes in MODS.



MODS element

Dublin Core element

Notes

<titleInfo><title> Title 1. For multiple MODS titles use multiple instances of dc:title.
2. MODS allows <titleInfo> subelements to be parsed: <nonSort>, <title>, <subTitle>, <partNumber>, <partName> MODS subelements should be concatenated in Dublin Core, separated by a space or other form of punctuation.
<name><namePart> Creator
Contributor

 

1. MODS puts all names in a repeated<name> with type of contribution indicated in <role>. It does not make the explicit distinction between creator and contributor in terms of primary vs. secondary roles. An application may wish to designate use of Creator or Contributor for all MODS names or use the role value to determine which DC element is used.
2. MODS allows <name> subelements to be parsed: <namePart>, <displayForm>, <affiliation>, <role>, <description> MODS subelements should be concatenated in Dublin Core, separated by a space or other form of punctuation.
<subject>

Subject

 
  <topic>
  <name>
  <occupation>
<classification>
<abstract> Description  
<note>
<tableOfContents>
<originInfo><publisher> Publisher  
<originInfo><dateIssued> Date  
<originInfo><dateCreated>
<originInfo><dateCaptured>
<originInfo><dateOther>
<typeOfResource> Type

1. Use separate instances of Type for each MODS element value.

2. If converting MODS typeOfResource values to Dublin Core Resource Type values, see conversion details below. If MODS <genre> contains authority="dct", that may be used in dc:type and typeOfResource dropped.

<genre>
<physicalDescription> Format Use separate instances of Format for each MODS element value.
<internetMediaType>
<extent>
<form>
<identifier> Identifier It is suggested that the identifier type be retained and associated with the identifier value.
<location> <url>
<language><languageTerm> Language  
<relatedItem> Relation

<relatedItem> data is parsed into subelements in MODS (any MODS element may be used).
Implementations may wish to consider the relatedItem type to determine mapping. If type="constituent", a full description may be given under relatedItem and conversion may result in an incomprehensible value. Alternatively, an application may wish to map only some elements under <relatedItem>, e.g., <titleInfo> and <identifier> or <location> if a full MODS description is given.

For example, if giving a reference to a resource fully described in MODS relatedItem, one could use: <relatedItem><identifier>
and/or title of a resource: <relatedItem><titleInfo><title>

<subject>

Coverage  
  <geographic>

 

<temporal>
  <hierarchicalGeographic>

 

<cartographics>
<accessCondition> Rights  
<recordInfo>    

 

Conversion of MODS typeOfResource values to DC Resource Type vocabulary.

MODS typeOfResource DC Type value
typeOfResource collection="yes" Collection (use in addition to specific value below)
software and mods:genre="database" Dataset
cartographic material Image
multimedia InteractiveResource
moving image MovingImage
three dimensional object PhysicalObject
software and mods:genre="online system or service" Service
sound recording, sound recording-musical,
sound recording-nonmusical
Sound
still image StillImage
software Software
text, notated music Text

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