Subject and Keyword Metatags for Documents and Webpages
Best Practices for Metadata for
Wisconsin State Agency Web Writers and Administrators

Shiela Pollock, Shiela.Pollock@dpi.wi.gov, (608) 224-5395
Reference and Loan Library, Dept. of Public Instruction

DC.Subject, Keywords, and the Wisconsin Thesaurus

The Wisconsin Portal Metadata Team strongly recommends the use of DC.Subject and keyword metatags for all WebPages and documents. The Wisconsin Thesaurus is a controlled (or standardized) vocabulary that can be used in either the DC.Subject of Keyword metatags to describe the subject of WebPages or documents.

What is the Wisconsin Thesaurus?

The Wisconsin Thesaurus, http://wiscsaurus.badgerlink.net/, is the official, controlled vocabulary to use when creating a DC.Subject metatag for a Wisconsin state government web page.

This thesaurus was developed by the Department of Public Instruction, Reference and Loan Library in conjunction with a multi-state effort funded by the Institute of Museums and Libraries through a grant to the Illinois State Library. The thesaurus was designed to describe programs commonly provided by state governments in general. The participating states hope that by using this vocabulary it will be possible to develop methods making it easier to search for information across states. It is designed to be small and general in nature rather than large and specific.

DC.Subject Terms

Definition: The Dublin Core version of "keywords". One or more terms should be chosen to describe the subject of the page. All terms appearing in DC.Subject tag must be from the Wisconsin Thesaurus. If the term is not in the thesaurus, it should not appear in this tag.

How used: The DC.Subject is displayed in the source view of the page. Advanced searching will allow users to set parameters for searching and will retrieve pages with terms set by the user. The CCE component of the state's search engine uses terms found in DC.Subject to create the Subject Directory. The CCE spiders state web pages frequently and re-creates a fresh Subject Directory on a regular basis. If you want your users to find your material using the Subject Directory, use this tag thoughtfully.

Importance: The state's search engine gives a term appearing in DC.Subject considerable weight.

Format: Text. A few words or phrases chosen from the Wisconsin Thesaurus. You may choose as many DC.Subject terms as necessary to best describe your webpage. Multiple subject terms often better describe a webpage than just applying one or two. And, be as specific as possible.

Keywords

Definition: One or more terms that describes the page. Some or all terms may be from the Wisconsin Thesaurus. Other terms not from the thesaurus may be used, especially jargon, abbreviations or acronyms, or terms well known by a user community.

How used: The state's search engine searches keywords, as do some commercial search engines.

Importance: The state's search engine gives a term appearing in keywords and DC.Subject metatags considerable weight.

Format: Text: a small handful of words or phrases. Separate keywords and phrases by commas.

Can I use both DC.Subject and keywords?

Yes, you may apply both to your WebPages and documents. Here are some examples of using DC.Subject terms and keywords together:

The Wisconsin Dept. of Health Services (DHS) Vital Records Services webpage, http://dhs.wisconsin.gov/vitalrecords/index.htm, is metatagged using the DC.Subject term 'vital records' to describe the webpage but also uses the keyword metatag to describe the different types of vital records they handle that are not DC.Subject terms in the thesaurus. DHS uses keywords to help enhance the meaning of the term 'vital record.' Also, the term genealogy is often misspelled by users. Although 'genealogy' is in the thesaurus, DHS included in the keyword metatag common misspellings of the term to increase the chances that the user would find their services even if they were to misspell 'genealogy.'

<meta name="DC.Subject" scheme="WI-CV" content="vital records">
<meta name="DC.Subject" scheme="WI-CV" content="genealogy">
<meta name="Keywords" content="vital records, birth certificate, death certificate, marriage certificate, divorce certificate, genealogical research, genealogy, geneology, wisconsin, department health family services">

The Wisconsin Dept. of Public Instruction (DPI) Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) webpage, http://dpi.wi.gov/esea/index.html, includes in the keyword metatag what the acronym 'ESEA' stands for and also the acronym itself. These keyword terms are not found in the thesaurus but help to describe the DC.Subject term 'Education and libraries.'

<meta name="DC.Subject" scheme="WI-CV" content="education and libraries">
<meta name="keywords" content="elementary and secondary education Act, ESEA, reauthorization, No Child Left Behind">

Which WebPages and documents do I metatag?

Tag only appropriate pages, it is not necessary to tag all pages. Here are some guidelines that may help you in making this decision.

Understanding the Thesaurus

Searching:

You can search the thesaurus in one of two ways, as described below:

1. Alphabetical Search. An alphabetical search will retrieve an alphabetical list of terms beginning with the term you entered. Non-preferred terms (or terms which you should NOT use) will appear in Italics. For example, if you enter the term "education" in an Alphabetical Search, you will retrieve the following list:

2. Keyword Search. A keyword search will retrieve a list of descriptors that contain that term anywhere in the subject phrase. Once again, non-preferred terms will appear in Italics. Please note that that the thesaurus now refers to a "Keyword Search" as "String Search". So, for example, if you enter the term "education" in a keyword search, you will retrieve the following list:

You may truncate words if you are unsure of the exact term. For example, to find all descriptors containing "employ", you may type in the word fragment with no punctuation and no asterisk.

The search engine will only retrieve the number of terms specified in the box for "How many terms?" The default is 25.

Display:

When you click on a term in either the alphabetical or the keyword search, you will retrieve a screen that shows the full display for that term. If you select one of the preferred terms from the list, you will get a screen that shows the term as well as its related (broader and narrower) terms.

Educational finance

• Broader terms:
  • Education
  • Government finance and taxes
  
  
• Narrower terms:
  • Federal education grants
  • State aid to higher education
  • State aid to schools
  • Student financial aid
  • Tuition tax credits and school vouchers

If you select one of the Italicized (non-preferred) terms, you will be directed to the preferred term to use instead.

Education policies

• Use:
  • Educational policies

Related Terms:

Use

These are terms that point users away from a non-preferred term toward a preferred term. Do not use as a DC.Subject, any term that lists a USE term underneath it. In the example below, "Water pollution" should not be used as a DC.Subject. Use the term "Water quality" instead.

Example: Water pollution

• Use:
  • Water quality

Used for

These are terms for which the preferred term is used (i.e., synonyms) in the framework of this Thesaurus. Terms listed under "Used for" will be shown in Italics and should not be used as DC.Subjects. In the example below, "American Indians" may be used as a DC.Subject. Do not use any of the terms listed under Used for:

Example: American Indians

• Used for:
  • Indians (American)
  • Indians of North America
  • Native Americans

Broader Terms (BT)

These are other valid and related terms that are more general in meaning. In the example below, the term "Endangered animals" or any of the terms listed under Broader Terms may be used as DC.Subjects when appropriate.

Example: Endangered animals

• Broader Terms:
  • Animals
  • Endangered species

Narrower Terms (NT)

These are other valid and related terms that are more restricted or narrower in meaning. In the example below, the term "Federal government" or any of the terms listed under Narrower Terms may be used as DC.Subjects when appropriate.

Example: Federal government

• Narrower Terms:
  • Federal agencies
  • Federal aid
  • Federal laws
  • Federal relations
  • U.S. Representatives
  • U.S. Senators

If you have any questions about the Wisconsin Thesaurus please contact:

Shiela Pollock, Shiela.Pollock@dpi.wi.gov, (608) 224-5395.
Reference and Loan Library, Dept. of Public Instruction

This includes general queries, additional information about the Wisconsin Thesaurus and its use, assistance assigning terms to agency WebPages, and suggestions either for new terms or for changes to existing terms.

Last updated on 6/24/2009 11:53:46 AM