How to Guide: Data Collection for Local Directgov Programme

METADATA

How to relate metadata, the Local Directgov Programme and its sustainability

Why Use Metadata?

What You Need To Do

HTML Syntax and Examples

OUR OBJECTIVES

To improve accessibility to public services via the Internet by bringing together Directgov and Local Authority online services into a single offering:
www.direct.gov.uk
We are collecting data for priority services by 9 December 2005 and for a further set of services by 17 March 2006.

 

Why Use Metadata?

Metadata can help you to identify pages you would like to submit to the Local Directgov Programme. This is especially useful in a devolved environment where the Webmaster does not have direct control over all the pages. Using metadata can help to identify pages representing a specific service and interaction. Correct metadata tagging helps us to check the relevance of pages linked to by Directgov and identifies those pages from which a suitable 'landing page' may be chosen.

Due to the varied levels of e-Government Metadata Standard (e-GMS) adopted across the country, metadata does not form part of the initial data collection process by Local Directgov. It is a desire of the programme, that in the future this can be used to support the sustainability of the ongoing data collection. However, for now, if metadata is available on your site then you can use it to identify the relevant pages and to populate the XML upload file.

If you can implement metadata on your web pages now it will help you to make your participation in Local Directgov even easier and will help towards fulfilling priority outcome G21 (see http://www.esd-toolkit.org/psto/content/G21.xml ). If you would like to add metadata to your pages, here is a guide to how it should look.

What You Need To Do

The following advice has been checked with both esd-toolkit and the e-Government Unit, Cabinet office for syntax etc, but is subject to confirmation with the next release of the e- Government Metadata Standard:

Please refer to the following document Integrated Public Sector Vocabulary - Guidance Notes for Local Authorities at www.esd.org.uk/documents/IPSVGuidanceNotes.pdf . There are also publicly open forums available to view and comment on at www.esd.org.uk (these are not restricted to Local Authority Officers)

HTML Syntax and Examples

Page for job vacancies:

<meta name="dc.subject" scheme="IPSV" content="Council vacancies"> <meta name="dc.subject" scheme="LGSL" content ="337">
<meta name="dc.subject" scheme="LGSL" content ="Job vacancies">
<meta name="dc.subject" scheme="LGIL" content="8">
<meta name="dc.subject" scheme="LGIL" content="Providing information">

Page for applying for a job :

<meta name="dc.subject" scheme="IPSV" content="Council vacancies">
<meta name="dc.subject" scheme="LGSL" content ="337">
<meta name="dc.subject" scheme="LGSL" content ="Job vacancies">
<meta name="dc.subject" scheme="LGIL" content="0">
<meta name="dc.subject" scheme="LGIL" content="Application for service">

For further information please contact your Local Directgov Engagement
Support Officer. Click on the link below to see which Engagement Support
Officer is working with your Local Authority:

www.ldghowto.org.uk/21.htm