I think this is an extremely good point. However, the metadata records
I'm referring to in this query aren't the "master" metadata records
intended as the authoritative description of the items, which should
absolutely describe the original slides as primary entities. Rather, the
records in question are derived from the masters for a very specific
purpose: exposure via OAI. As such, they don't include every bit of
(very useful in other contexts!) metadata we have on the images. That's
the primary reason I'm leaning towards having this particular set of
records describe one of the digital copies at their core - they're being
used in a digital environment.

Jenn

========================
Jenn Riley
Metadata Librarian
Digital Library Program
Indiana University - Bloomington
Main Library E170
(812) 856-5759
www.dlib.indiana.edu


> -----Original Message-----
> From: Schupbach ,Mr William [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
> Sent: Friday, September 10, 2004 1:33 PM
> To: Metadata Object Description Schema List
> Cc: Riley, Jenn
> Subject: Re: physical vs. digitized item
> 
> As the Cushman collection is obviously of historic value, I'd 
> certainly want to  find records for the originals, which are 
> authoritative, not just for the scans, which are ephemeral.
> 
> William Schupbach
> Wellcome Library, 183 Euston Road, London NW1 2BE, England
> E-mail: [log in to unmask]
> Catalogue: http://catalogue.wellcome.ac.uk
> 
> [British registered charity no. 210183]
> 
>