GILS metadata initiatives at the state level

Metadata has emerged as a tool for providing access and managing information resources in Government Information Locator Services (GILS) in several states. Various metadata schemes have developed, building on efforts in the federal government, library, and information science communities. Methods of metadata application include incorporation into the resources., metadata wrappers, and development of repositories to store metadata separate from the resources it describe. Metadata use is also developing as a strategy for preservation of resources. Developments in RDF, XML and Z39.50 may provide means for integrating diverse metadata-based resources. At the same time, developments outside the GILS community offer alternatives that have potential to inform or replace GILS as a method of citizen access to government information. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.