SSA Virtual Workshop: Training Non-Librarians on Metadata

Title: Training Non-Librarians on Metadata

Presenter: Phoenix Smithey, Head of Special Collections, Torreyson Library, University of Central Arkansas

Date: Wednesday, March 11, 2026

Time: 10:00am CST

Duration Length: 90 minutes with a 15-minute break and Q&A portion.

Description: Metadata is one of the most important access points to physical and digital archival collections. Often, GLAM professionals partner with non-information professionals in the form of student workers, interns, and volunteers to create descriptive metadata to engage researchers in meaningful location and selection of primary source material. Effective and succinct metadata training is essential to success when training non-information professionals on descriptive metadata. This workshop will explore different training methods and resources that have been utilized at the UCA Archives to train student workers, interns, and volunteers.

This workshop will discuss the importance and implementation of a shared controlled vocabulary, creation of metadata templates and data dictionaries, utilization of Google Forms to create descriptive metadata, and the successes and failures of teaching Dublin Core Metadata Terms and Elements to non-information professionals.

This program is sponsored by the Society of Southwest Archivists Professional Development Committee.

For questions or if you encounter any registration difficulties, please contact pdc@southwestarchivists.org.

Note: Zoom link will be provided via email two days before the event.