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Hyku Cookbook: Format

Recipes for metadata entry for UofL Digital Collections

Format

This is a mandatory field. Every record must include the MIME Type of the access file.

sample of elements that show on each field page
Repeatable Yes. Enter each format in the same field, separated by a semicolon and a space.
Hyku term format
Mapping http://purl.org/dc/terms/format
Search No
Hide Yes
Vocabulary Yes
Definition The Internet Media Type (aka MIME type) of the digital resource. Format is used to describe the software, hardware, or other equipment needed to display or operate the resource.
Usage

Refer to the object attached to the record (the access file), not the archival master file.

Use IANA MIME Media Types.

  • Consolidate IMT (Internet Media Type) and subtype into one text string.
  • New media types and applications are always emerging. If the resource format being described is not yet part of the MIME type list, select a broad category of object format for the first part of the MIME type, then use the file name suffix for the second half.

Some digital objects may involve more than one format, e.g. an oral history interview may include audio and text. Separate each entry by a semicolon and a space.

The Format element may influence a user’s decision whether or not to access the described resource.

Examples

image/jpeg

audio/mp3

text/xml

video/mpeg

application/pdf