Europeana Semantic Elements

specifications
Version 3.2, 07/08/2009

Europeana v1.0

co-funded by the European Union

The project is co-funded by the European Union, through the eContentplus programme
[Link]
Europeana Semantic Elements specifications

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements ..................................................................................................................2

1. Foreword ..............................................................................................................................3

2. Europeana Semantic Elements (ESE) .................................................................................3

2.1 The elements ................................................................................................................3

2.2 XML attributes...............................................................................................................4

3. Introduction to the descriptions and to Europeana usage of the elements ..........................4

4. Definitions for the ESE elements..........................................................................................5

5. Document history ...............................................................................................................28

Acknowledgements

Thanks are due to the following for their expert contribution of this document.

Robina Clayphan

Makx Dekkers

Kate Fernie

Stefan Gradmann

Catherine Lupovici

Carlo Meghini

Go Sugimoto

Julie Verleyen

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Europeana Semantic Elements specifications

1. Foreword

This document provides the specification of the Europeana Semantic Elements, including
their properties, XML syntax, usage in the Europeana portal, obligation, occurrence and
examples. The Europeana Semantic Elements are used in the Prototype portal, which was
launched on 20 November 2008 at [Link]

2. Europeana Semantic Elements (ESE)

2.1 The elements

The Europeana Semantic Elements (the ESE), consist of the Dublin Core (DC) metadata
elements, a subset of the DC terms (defined at [Link]
and a set of twelve elements which were created to meet Europeana’s needs.
The elements in the ESE are as follows:

Source Element Element Refinement(s)

DC title alternative
DC creator
DC subject
DC description tableOfContents
DC publisher
DC contributor
DC date created; issued
DC type
DC format extent; medium
DC identifier
DC source
DC language
DC relation isVersionOf; hasVersion; isReplacedBy;
replaces; isRequiredBy; requires;
isPartOf; hasPart; isReferencedBy;
references; isFormatOf; hasFormat;
conformsTo

Europeana isShownBy; isShownAt

DC coverage spatial; temporal
DC rights
DC terms provenance
Europeana userTag
Europeana unstored
Europeana object
Europeana language
Europeana provider
Europeana type
Europeana uri
Europeana year

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Europeana Semantic Elements specifications

Europeana hasObject
Europeana country

Please note that the dc and europeana namespaces both have “Type” and “Language”
elements, these have different uses which are explained in the specifications below.

2.2 XML attributes

The ESE XML Schema 1 extends the DC XML Schema by adding elements from the
Europeana namespace. Currently the Europeana namespace does not define any attribute.
Therefore the only attributes allowed by the XML Schema for the ESE elements set of the
XML instance documents are the attributes xml:lang (defined by DC XML Schema) and
xsi:type of the DC elements.

3. Introduction to the descriptions and to Europeana usage of the elements

Each element in the ESE is described as follows:

Element Name: The formal name for the element.

Namespace: The namespace or the source of the element: dc, dcterms or
europeana. More information on the dc metadata terms can be found
at [Link]
URI: The Uniform Resource Identifier used to uniquely identify the element.
Label: The human readable label assigned to the element.
Definition: A definition of the element based on the DC definition for the term
where applicable.
Europeana A note providing information relating to the usage of the element in
note: Europeana prototype.
Obligation & An indication of the requirement or obligation for the element to be
Occurrence: present and its occurrence (how often the element may be repeated)
in the metadata.
Europeana Simple search: All of the elements are used for the simple search
search and function.
display Facet: Indicates if an element is used for the refined
features search function and in which of the facets: Date,
Type, Provider, Country, and Language.
Timeline: Indicates if an element is used in the Timeline
browse function
Advanced Indicates which index an element is used in for
search: the advanced search function: Title, Creator, Date
and Subject.
Full search Indicates if the element’s content is included in
result display: the Europeana digital object full search result
display
Example An example of the xml syntax is provided.

1
[Link]

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Europeana Semantic Elements specifications

4. Definitions for the ESE elements

This section lists the ESE elements in alphabetical order and describes their attributes.

Please note that the “Type” and “Language” elements occur in both the dc and the
europeana namespaces; these elements have different uses in the two namespaces. In the
tables below, you will find “Type” and “Language” are listed twice, once in each namespace,
to describe their different uses.

Element name: alternative

Namespace dcterms
URI [Link]
Label Alternative Title
An alternative name for the resource. This can be any form of the title that is
used as a substitute or an alternative to the formal title of the resource
Definition
including abbreviations or translations of the title.
Refinement of <dc:title>
Europeana Any alternative title by which the original analog or born digital object is
note known. This can include abbreviations or translations of the title.
Obligation &
Optional (Minimum: 0, Maximum: unbounded)
Occurrence
Europeana Simple Facet Timeline Advanced Full search
search and search search result display
display X X X
features Title (Title Line)
<dcterms:alternative>Ocho semanas</dcterms:alternative> (When
Example
<dc:title>Eight weeks</dc:title>)

Element name: conformsTo

Namespace dcterms
URI [Link]
Label Conforms To
An established standard to which the described resource conforms.
Definition
Refinement of <dc:relation>.
Europeana The names of standards that the digital object (digitized or born digital)
note complies with and which are useful for the use of the object.
Obligation &
Optional (Minimum: 0, Maximum: unbounded)
Occurrence
Europeana Simple Facet Timeline Advanced Full search result
search and search search display
display X X
features (More: Relations Line)
Example <dcterms:conformsTo> W3C WCAG 2.0</dcterms:conformsTo> (for an HTML

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Europeana Semantic Elements specifications

document that conforms to web content accessibility guidelines).

Element name: contributor

Namespace dc
URI [Link]
Label Contributor
Definition An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource.
Europeana The name of contributors to the original analog or born digital object. This
note could be a person, an organisation or a service.
Obligation &
Optional (Minimum: 0, Maximum: unbounded)
Occurrence
Europeana Simple Facet Timeline Advanced Full search result
search and search search display
display X (Creator) X
features (Creator Line)
Example <dc:contributor>Maria Callas</dc:contributor>

Element name: country

Namespace europeana
URI [Link]
Label Country
This is the name of the country in which the content provider is based or
Definition
“Europe” in the case of Europe-wide projects.
The country name is derived automatically from information held in the
Europeana Europeana content providers authority file. Country names should conform to
note ISO 3166.
([Link]
Obligation &
Mandatory (Minimum: 1, Maximum: 1)
Occurrence
Europeana
Simple Facet Timeline Advanced Full search result
search and
search search display
display
X X (Country) X (Country)
features
Example <europeana:country>AL</europeana:country>

Element name: coverage

Namespace dc
URI [Link]
Label Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the
Definition resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant. This may be
a named place, a location, a spatial coordinate, a period, date, date range or a

6
Europeana Semantic Elements specifications

named administrative entity.

Refined by <dcterms:spatial> and <dcterms:temporal>
Coverage is the unqualified spatial or temporal coverage of the original analog
Europeana or born digital object.
note Use of the more specific <dcterms:spatial> and <dcterms:temporal> elements
is preferred where possible.
Obligation &
Optional (Minimum: 0, Maximum: unbounded)
Occurrence
Europeana Simple Facet Timeline Advanced Full search result display
search and search search
display X X
features (More: Subject Line)
<dc:coverage>1995-1996</dc:coverage>
Example
<dc:coverage>Boston, MA</dc:coverage>

Element name: created

Namespace dcterms
URI [Link]
Label Date Created
Definition Date of creation of the resource. Refinement of <dc:date>
This is the date when the original analog or born digital object was created.
Europeana
The creation date is used to generate the <europeana:year> for use in the
note
timeline where appropriate.
Obligation &
Optional (Minimum: 0, Maximum: unbounded)
Occurrence
Europeana Simple Facet Timeline Advanced Full search result
search and search search display
display X X
features (More: Date Line)
<dcterms:created>1564</dcterms:created>
Example
<dcterms:created>Iron Age</dcterms:created>

Element name: creator

Namespace dc
URI [Link]
Label Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource. This may be a person,
Definition
organisation or a service.
Europeana
This is the name of the creator of the original analog or born digital object.
note
Obligation &
Optional (Minimum: 0, Maximum: unbounded)
Occurrence

7
Europeana Semantic Elements specifications

Europeana Simple Facet Timeline Advanced Full search result

search and search search display
display X X Creator X
features (Creator Line)
Example <dc:creator>Shakespeare, William</dc:creator>

Element name: date

Namespace dc
URI [Link]
Label Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the
Definition resource.
Refined by: <dc:created> and <dcterms:issued>
Use for a significant date in the life of the original analog or born digital object
(see example).
Europeana Use <dcterms:temporal> (or <dc:coverage>) if the date is associated with the
note topic of the resource.
<dc:date> can be used to generate <europeana:year> for the timeline where
appropriate.
Obligation &
Optional (Minimum: 0, Maximum: unbounded)
Occurrence
Europeana Simple Facet Timeline Advanced Full search result
search and search search display
display X (X Date X
features (More: Date Line)
<dc:date>17th century</dc:date> (For example the date when an object was
Example
repaired).

Element name: description

Namespace dc
URI [Link]
Label Description
Definition An account of the resource. Refined by: <dcterms:tableOfContents>
Europeana
A description of the original analog or born digital object.
note
Obligation &
Optional (Minimum: 0, Maximum: unbounded)
Occurrence
Europeana Simple Facet Timeline Advanced Full search
search and search search result display
display X X (Description
features Line)
<dc:description>Illustrated guide to airport markings and lighting signals, with
Example
particular reference to SMGCS (Surface Movement Guidance and Control

8
Europeana Semantic Elements specifications

System) for airports with low visibility conditions.</dc:description>

Element name: extent

Namespace Dcterms
URI [Link]
Label Extent
Definition The size or duration of the resource. Refinement of <dc:format>.
Europeana
Size or duration of the digital object and the original object may be recorded.
note
Obligation &
Optional (Minimum: 0, Maximum: unbounded)
Occurrence
Europeana Simple Facet Timeline Advanced Full search result
search and search search display
display X X
features (Format Line)
<dcterms:extent>13 cm</dcterms:extent> (the width of an original object).
Example
<dcterms:extent>34 minutes</dcterms:extent> (the length of an audio file).

Element name: format

Namespace dc
URI [Link]
Label Format
The file format, physical medium or dimensions of the resource.
Definition
Refined by: <dcterms:extent> and <dcterms:medium>
The unqualified element includes file format, physical medium or dimensions
of the original and/or digital object.

Use this element for the file format of the digital object or born digital originals.
Europeana Internet Media Types [MIME] are highly recommended
note ([Link]

Use of the more specific elements <dcterms:extent> (dimensions) and

<dcterms:medium> (physical medium) is preferred where appropriate.
Obligation &
Optional (Minimum: 0, Maximum: unbounded)
Occurrence
Europeana Simple Facet Timeline Advanced Full search result
search and search search display
display X X
features (Format Line)
Example <dc:format>image/jpeg</dc:format>

Element name: hasFormat

Namespace dcterms

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Europeana Semantic Elements specifications

URI [Link]
Label Has Format
A related resource that is substantially the same as the pre-existing described
Definition resource, but in another format.
Refinement of <dc:relation>. See also <dcterms:isFormatOf>.
Europeana
Use <dcterms:hasVersion> for differences in version.
note
Obligation &
Optional (Minimum: 0, Maximum: unbounded)
Occurrence
Europeana Simple Facet Timeline Advanced Full search result
search and search search display
display X X
features (More: Relation Line)
<dcterms:hasFormat>[Link]
Example _logo.png</dcterms:hasFormat>
where the resource being described is a tiff image file.

Element name: hasObject

Namespace europeana
URI [Link]
Label Has Object
Indicates the availability of thumbnails of digital objects for the Europeana
Definition system to understand and process them. Two values are allowed (False or
True). The value corresponds to <europeana:object>.
Europeana Europeana supports Image Magick compliant formats such as PDF, JPEG,
note and TIFF ([Link]
Obligation &
Mandatory (Minimum: 1, Maximum: 1)
Occurrence
Europeana Simple Facet Timeline Advanced Full search
search and search search result display
display
features
Example <europeana:hasObject>True</europeana:hasObject>

Element name: hasPart

Namespace dcterms
URI [Link]
Label Has Part
A related resource that is included either physically or logically in the
Definition described resource.
Refinement of <dc:relation>. See also <dcterms:isPartOf>.
Europeana

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Europeana Semantic Elements specifications

note
Obligation &
Optional (Minimum: 0, Maximum: unbounded)
Occurrence
Europeana Simple Facet Timeline Advanced Full search result
search and search search display
display X X
features (More: Relation Line)
<dcterms:hasPart> [Link].1 </dcterms:hasPart> The identifier for a map
Example
which is part of the Crace Collection of maps.

Element name: hasVersion

Namespace dcterms
URI [Link]
Label Has Version
A related resource that is a version, edition, or adaptation of the described
resource. Changes in version imply substantive changes in content rather
Definition
than differences in format.
Refinement of <dc:relation>. See also <dcterms:isVersionOf>.
Europeana
Use <dcterms:hasFormat> for differences in format.
note
Obligation &
Optional (Minimum: 0, Maximum: unbounded)
Occurrence
Europeana Simple Facet Timeline Advanced Full search
search and search search result display
display X X (More:
features Relation Line)
<dcterms:hasVersion>The Sorcerer’s Apprentice</dcterms:hasVersion>
Example (translation by Edwin Zeydel, 1955). In this example the 1955 translation is a
version of the described resource.

Element name: identifier

Namespace dc
URI [Link]
Label Identifier
Definition An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context.
This is the identifier for the original analog or born digital object.
Europeana
Use <europeana:isShownBy> for the URL of the digital object. If the URL is
note
already included in the <dc:identifier> element in the existing metadata, keep
it and repeat the information in <europeana:isShownBy>.
Obligation &
Optional (Minimum: 0, Maximum: unbounded)
Occurrence

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Europeana Semantic Elements specifications

Europeana Simple Facet Timeline Advanced Full search result

search and search search display
display X X
features (More: Identifier Line)
<dc:identifier>urn :isbn :9780387097466</dc:identifier>
Example <dc:identifier> [Link]
Europeana_logo.png</dc:identifier>

Element name: isFormatOf

Namespace dcterms
URI [Link]
Label Is Format Of
A related resource that is substantially the same as the described resource,
Definition but in another format.
Refinement of <dc:relation>. See also <dcterms:hasFormat>.
Europeana
note
Obligation &
Optional (Minimum: 0, Maximum: unbounded)
Occurrence
Europeana Simple Facet Timeline Advanced Full search result
search and search search display
display X X
features (More: Relation Line)
<dcterms:isFormatOf> Europeana_logo.tiff</dcterms:isFormatOf>
Example
where the resource being described is a png image file.

Element name: isPartOf

Namespace dcterms
URI [Link]
Label Is Part Of
A related resource in which the described resource is physically or logically
Definition
included. Refinement of <dc:relation>. See also <dcterms:hasPart>.
Europeana
Use for the name of the collection which the digital object is part of.
note
Obligation &
Optional (Minimum: 0, Maximum: unbounded)
Occurrence
Europeana Simple Facet Timeline Advanced Full search result
search and search search display
display X X
features (More: Relation Line)
Example <dcterms:isPartOf>Crace Collection of Maps of London</dcterms:isPartOf>

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Europeana Semantic Elements specifications

Element name: isReferencedBy

Namespace dcterms
URI [Link]
Label Is Referenced By
A related resource that references, cites, or otherwise points to the described
Definition resource.
Refinement of <dc:relation>. See also <dcterms:references>.
Europeana
note
Obligation &
Optional (Minimum: 0, Maximum: unbounded)
Occurrence
Europeana Simple Facet Timeline Advanced Full search result
search and search search display
display X X
features (More: Relation Line)
<dcterms:isReferencedBy>Till, Nicholas (1994) Mozart and the
Example Enlightenment: Truth, Virtue and Beauty in Mozart's Operas, W. W. Norton &
Company </dcterms:isReferencedBy>

Element name: isReplacedBy

Namespace dcterms
URI [Link]
Label Is Replaced By
A related resource that supplants, displaces, or supersedes the described
Definition resource.
Refinement of <dc:relation>. See also <dcterms:replaces>.
Europeana
note
Obligation &
Optional (Minimum: 0, Maximum: unbounded)
Occurrence
Europeana Simple Facet Timeline Advanced Full search result
search and search search display
display X X
features (More: Relation Line)
<dcterms:isReplacedBy>[Link]
Example rms:isReplacedBy> where the resource described is an older version
([Link]

Element name: isRequiredBy

Namespace dcterms
URI [Link]

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Europeana Semantic Elements specifications

Label Is Required By
A related resource that requires the described resource to support its function,
Definition delivery or coherence.
Refinement of <dc:relation>. See also <dcterms:requires>.
Europeana
note
Obligation &
Optional (Minimum: 0, Maximum: unbounded)
Occurrence
Europeana Simple Facet Timeline Advanced Full search result
search and search search display
display X X
features (More: Relation Line)
<isRequiredBy>[Link]
Example
where the image being described is required for an online slideshow.

Element name: isShownAt

Namespace europeana
URI [Link]
Label Is Shown At
An unambiguous URL reference to the digital object on the content provider’s
Definition web site in its full information context.
Refinement of <dc:relation>. See also <europeana:isShownBy>.
This is a URL that will be active in the Europeana interface. It will lead users to
the digital object displayed on the content provider’s web site in its full
Europeana
information context.
note
Use <europeana:isShownAt> if you display the digital object with extra
information (such as header, banner etc).
Obligation & Optional (Minimum: 0, Maximum: 1)
Occurrence But either isShownAt OR isShownBy is Mandatory
Europeana Simple Facet Timeline Advanced Full search result
search and search search display
display X
features
<europeana:isShownAt>
Example [Link]
</europeana:isShownAt>

Element name: isShownBy

Namespace europeana
URI [Link]
Label Is Shown By
An unambiguous URL reference to the digital object on the content provider’s
Definition
web site in the best available resolution/quality.

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Europeana Semantic Elements specifications

Refinement of <dc:relation>. See also <europeana:isShownAt>.

This is a URL that will be active in the Europeana interface. It will lead users
to the digital object on the content provider’s website where they can view or
play it.
Europeana
The digital object needs to be directly accessible by the URL and reasonably
note
independent at that location. If the URL includes short copyright information
with the pointer to the object it can be entered in <europeana:isShownBy>.
Use <europeana:isShownAt> for digital objects embedded in HTML pages
(even where the page is extremely simple).
Obligation & Optional (Minimum: 0, Maximum: 1)
Occurrence But either isShownBy OR isShownAt is Mandatory
Simple Facet Timeline Advanced Full search result
Europeana
search search display
search and
X (Click on the
display
thumbnail leads to the
features
URL)
<europeana:isShownBy>
Example [Link]
</europeana:isShownBy>

Element name: issued

Namespace dcterms
URI [Link]
Label Date Issued
Date of formal issuance (e.g., publication) of the resource.
Definition
Refinement of <dc:date>.
The date when the original analog or born digital object was issued or
Europeana
published. It may be used to generate the <europeana:year> for the timeline
note
where this is appropriate.
Obligation &
Optional (Minimum: 0, Maximum: unbounded)
Occurrence
Europeana Simple Facet Timeline Advanced Full search result
search and search search display
display X X
features (More: Date Line)
Example <dcterms:issued>1993</dcterms:issued>

Element name: isVersionOf

Namespace dcterms
URI [Link]
Label Is Version Of
Definition A related resource of which the described resource is a version, edition, or

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Europeana Semantic Elements specifications

adaptation. Changes in version imply substantive changes in content rather

than differences in format.
Refinement of <dc:relation>. See also <dcterms:hasVersion>
Europeana
note
Obligation &
Optional (Minimum: 0, Maximum: unbounded)
Occurrence
Europeana Simple Facet Timeline Advanced Full search result
search and search search display
display X X
features (More: Relations Line)
Example <dcterms:isVersionOf>ESE Version 0.5</dcterms:isVersionOf>

Element name: language

Namespace dc
URI [Link]
Label Language
Definition A language of the resource.
The recommended best practice is to use a controlled vocabulary such as
RFC 4646 ([Link] which, in
Comment
conjunction with ISO 639, defines two- and three-letter primary language tags.
Either a coded value or text string can be represented here.
Use this element for the language of text included in images (i.e. posters,
newspapers etc).

If there is no language aspect to the digital object (e.g. a photograph), please

ignore this element.
Europeana
Use of RFC 4646 is highly recommended.
note

This element is not for the language of the metadata of a resource, which may
be described in xml:lang attribute.
For example, <dc:title xml:lang=”en”>After dark</dc:title>.

See <europeana:language>.
Obligation &
Optional (Minimum: 0, Maximum: unbounded)
Occurrence
Europeana Simple Facet Timeline Advanced Full search result display
search and search search
display X X
features (Language Line)
Example <dc:language>it</dc:language>

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Europeana Semantic Elements specifications

Element name: language

Namespace europeana
URI [Link]
Label Europeana Language
Definition A language assigned to the resource with reference to the content provider.
For the Europeana prototype, <europeana:language> is the official language
of the country where a content provider is located
Europeana
note It is expressed using the ISO 639-1 (the two-character code) (e.g. “en”, “de”
etc). For countries with several official languages, Europeana uses “mul” for
multilingual (ISO 639-2).
Obligation &
Mandatory (Minimum:1, Maximum: 1)
Occurrence
Simple Facet Timeline Advanced Full search result
Europeana
search search display
search and
X X X
display
Language (Language Line)
features
facet
Example <europeana:language>ro</europeana:language>

Element name: medium

Namespace dcterms
URI [Link]
Label Medium
The material or physical carrier of the resource.
Definition
Refinement of <dc:format>.
Europeana
This is the medium of the original analog or born digital object.
note
Obligation &
Optional (Minimum: 0, Maximum: unbounded)
Occurrence
Europeana Simple Facet Timeline Advanced Full search result
search and search search display
display X X
features (Format Line)
Example <dcterms:medium>metal</dcterms:medium>

Element name: object

Namespace europeana
URI [Link]
Label Object
An unambiguous URL (not URI) reference to the digital object in the best
Definition
resolution available on the content provider’s web site to generate a thumbnail

17
Europeana Semantic Elements specifications

or sample. This element usually maps to <europeana:isShownBy>.

See also <europeana:hasObject>.

Thumbnail images are generated for display in Europeana from digital objects
whose format (such as PDF, JPEG, and TIFF) is compliant with the Image
Magick software which is used ([Link] Image Magick
needs to have direct access to the image to create a thumbnail; for example it
cannot make a thumbnail out of an image embedded in an HTML page.
Europeana
note Europeana creates one thumbnail per record. If a record contains several
pages in a PDF, the front page is used to create the thumbnail. If a record
contains several image files, the first file that appears is used for the
thumbnail.

If the digital object is not in the Image Magick compliant format, this element is
not mandatory. Where no thumbnail is available, a default thumbnail for the
type of object will be displayed.
Obligation & Optional (Minimum: 0, Maximum: 1)
Occurrence But mandatory if applicable (See above)
Europeana Simple Facet Timeline Advanced Full search result display
search and search search
display
features
<europeana:object>[Link]
Example
[Link]</europeana:object>

Element name: provenance

Namespace dcterms
URI [Link]
Label Provenance
A statement of any changes in ownership and custody of the resource since
its creation that are significant for its authenticity, integrity and interpretation.
Definition
This may include a description of any changes successive custodians made to
the resource.
Europeana This relates to the ownership and custody of the original analog or born digital
note object.
Obligation &
Optional (Minimum: 0, Maximum: unbounded)
Occurrence
Europeana Simple Facet Timeline Advanced Full search result
search and search search display
display X X (More: Provenance
features Line)
<dcterms:provenance>Donated by The National Library in
Example
1965</dcterms:provenance>

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Europeana Semantic Elements specifications

Element name: provider

Namespace europeana
URI [Link]
Label Europeana Provider
Definition Name of the organization that deliver content to Europeana.
Please note that content provider means the organization that sends the data
to Europeana and neither the institution that owns the original object nor the
Europeana institution where the original object is located. In case of aggregator and
note European project (e.g. Video Active
[Link] <europeana:provider> is the
name of aggregator/project.
Obligation &
Mandatory (Minimum: 1, Maximum: 1)
Occurrence
Europeana Simple Facet Timeline Advanced Full search result
search and search search display
display X X X
features (Provider) (Provider Line)
Example <europeana:provider>Het Geheugen van Nederland</europeana:provider>

Element name: publisher

Namespace dc
URI [Link]
Label Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available. Examples of a
Definition
publisher include a person, an organisation and a service.
Europeana
The name of the publisher of the original analog or born digital object.
note
Obligation &
Optional (Minimum: 0, Maximum: unbounded)
Occurrence
Europeana Simple Facet Timeline Advanced Full search result
search and search search display
display X X
features (More: Publisher Line)
Example <dc:publisher>Oxford University Press</dc:publisher>

Element name: references

Namespace dcterms
URI [Link]
Label References
A related resource that is referenced, cited, or otherwise pointed to by the
Definition
described resource. Refinement of <dc:relation>.

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Europeana Semantic Elements specifications

See also <dcterms:isReferencedBy>.

Europeana
note
Obligation &
Optional (Minimum: 0, Maximum: unbounded)
Occurrence
Europeana Simple Facet Timeline Advanced Full search result
search and search search display
display X X
features (More: Relations Line)
<dcterms:references>Honderd jaar Noorse schilderkunst
Example
</dcterms:references>

Element name: relation

Namespace dc
URI [Link]
Label Relation
A related resource. The recommended best practice is to identify the resource
Definition
using a formal identification scheme.
This is information about resources that are related to the original analog or
born digital object.
Refined by: <dcterms:isVersionOf>; <dcterms:hasVersion>;
Europeana <dcterms:isReplacedBy>; <dcterms:replaces>; <dcterms:isRequiredBy>;
note <dcterms:requires>; <dcterms:isPartOf>; <dcterms:hasPart>;
<dcterms:isReferencedBy>; <dcterms:references>; <dcterms:isFormatOf>;
<dcterms:hasFormat>; <dcterms:conformsTo>; <europeana:isShownBy>;
<europeana:isShownAt>
Obligation &
Optional (Minimum: 0, Maximum: unbounded)
Occurrence
Europeana Simple Facet Timeline Advanced Full search result
search and search search display
display X X
features (More: Relations Line)
<dc:relation> [Link].1/33</dc:relation> (This is the shelf mark for a map
Example
held in the British Library’s Crace Collection).

Element name: replaces

Namespace dcterms
URI [Link]
Label Replaces
A related resource that is supplanted, displaced, or superseded by the
Definition described resource.
Refinement of <dc:relation>. See also <dcterms:isReplacedBy>.
Europeana

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Europeana Semantic Elements specifications

note
Obligation &
Optional (Minimum: 0, Maximum: unbounded)
Occurrence
Europeana Simple Facet Timeline Advanced Full search result
search and search search display
display X X
features (More: Relations Line)
<dcterms:replaces>[Link]
Example eplaces> where the resource described is a newer version
([Link]

Element name: requires

Namespace dcterms
URI [Link]
Label Requires
A related resource that is required by the described resource to support its
Definition function, delivery or coherence.
Refinement of <dc:relation>. See also <dcterms:isRequiredBy>.
Europeana
note
Obligation &
Optional (Minimum: 0, Maximum: unbounded)
Occurrence
Europeana Simple Facet Timeline Advanced Full search result display
search and search search
display X X
features (More: Relations Line)
<dcterms:requires>[Link]
Example </dcterms:requires> where the resource described is a HTML file at
[Link]

Element name: rights

Namespace dc
URI [Link]
Label Rights
Definition Information about rights held in and over the resource.
Europeana Information about intellectual Property Rights, access rights or license
note arrangements for the digital object (digitized or born digital).
Obligation &
Optional (Minimum: 0, Maximum: unbounded)
Occurrence
Europeana Simple Facet Timeline Advanced Full search result
search and search search display
display X X

21
Europeana Semantic Elements specifications

features (Rights Line)

Example <dc:rights>Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License</dc:rights>

Element name: source

Namespace dc
URI [Link]
Label Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived in whole or in
Definition
part.
This may be used for several sources that are related to the object such as
Europeana
reference sources or the names of content holders.
note
The name of the content provider should be inserted in <europeana:provider>
Obligation &
Optional (Minimum: 0, Maximum: unbounded)
Occurrence
Europeana Simple Facet Timeline Advanced Full search result
search and search search display
display X X
features (Source)
<dc:source>Security Magazine pp 3-12</dc:source>
Example
<dc:source>BAM portal</dc:source>

Element name: spatial

Namespace dcterms
URI [Link]
Label Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Definition
Refinement of <dc:coverage>.
Information about the spatial characteristics of the original analog or born
Europeana digital object, i.e. what the resource represents or depicts in terms of space.
note This may be a named place, a location, a spatial coordinate or a named
administrative entity.
Obligation &
Optional (Minimum: 0, Maximum: unbounded)
Occurrence
Europeana Simple Facet Timeline Advanced Full search result
search and search search display
display X X X
features Subject (More: Subject Line)
Example <dcterms:spatial>Portugal</dcterms:spatial>

Element name: subject

Namespace dc
URI [Link]

22
Europeana Semantic Elements specifications

Label Subject
Definition The topic of the resource
Europeana
This is the subject of the original analog or born digital object,
note
Obligation &
Optional (Minimum: 0, Maximum: unbounded)
Occurrence
Europeana Simple Facet Timeline Advanced Full search result
search and search search display
display X X Subject X
features (More: Subject Line)
Example <dc:subject>submarine</dc:subject>

Element name: tableOfContents

Namespace dcterms
URI [Link]
Label Table Of Contents
Definition A list of subunits of the resource. Refinement of <dc:description>.
Europeana
A list of the units within the original analog or born digital resource object.
note
Obligation &
Optional (Minimum: 0, Maximum: unbounded)
Occurrence
Europeana Simple Facet Timeline Advanced Full search result
search and search search display
display X
features
<dcterms:tableOfContents>Chapter 1. Introduction, Chapter 2. History
Example
</dcterms:tableOfContents>

Element name: temporal

Namespace dcterms
URI [Link]
Label Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
Definition
Refinement of <dc:coverage>
Europeana The temporal characteristics of the original analog or born digital object. This
note may be a period, date or date range.
Obligation &
Optional (Minimum: 0, Maximum: unbounded)
Occurrence
Europeana Simple Facet Timeline Advanced Full search result
search and search search display
display X X X
features Subject (More: Subject)

23
Europeana Semantic Elements specifications

Example <dcterms:temporal>Roman</dcterms:temporal>

Element name: title

Namespace dc
URI [Link]
Label Title
A name given to the resource. Typically, a Title will be a name by which the
Definition
resource is formally known. Refined by: <dcterms:alternative>
Europeana
The title of the original analog or born digital object.
note
Obligation &
Optional(Minimum: 0, Maximum: unbounded)
Occurrence
Europeana Simple Facet Timeline Advanced Full search result
search and search search display
display X X X
features Title (Title)
Example <dc:title>Taal vitaal</dc:title>

Element name: type

Namespace dc
URI [Link]
Label Type
The nature or genre of the resource. Type includes terms describing general
categories, functions, genres, or aggregation levels for content. The
Definition recommended best practice is to select a value from a controlled vocabulary
(for example, the DC Type vocabulary is available at
[Link]
The type of the original analog or born digital object as recorded by the
content provider, this element typically includes values such as photograph,
painting, sculpture etc.
Europeana
note
Content providers are recommended to map the values found in <dc:type> in
their metadata with four material types used in Europeana: TEXT, IMAGE,
SOUND and VIDEO. See <europeana:type> below.
Obligation &
Optional (Minimum:0, Maximum: unbounded)
Occurrence
Europeana Simple Facet Timeline Advanced Full search result
search and search search display
display X X
features (More:Type)
<dc:type>painting</dc:type>
Example <dc:type>photograph</dc:type>
<dc:type>coin</dc:type>

24
Europeana Semantic Elements specifications

Element name: type

Namespace europeana
URI [Link]
Label Europeana Type
Definition The Europeana material type of the resource.
All digital objects in Europeana have to be classified as one of the four
Europeana material types: TEXT, IMAGE, SOUND or VIDEO. This element is
used to create Type facet based on the Europeana material types. A default
thumbnail is used in the short or full record display when a thumbnail is not
Europeana
available (see <europeana:object>).
note

Content providers are requested to create a mapping from the local type
terminology used in their metadata to the four types used in Europeana. The
mapping is typically based on the values in <dc:type>.
Obligation &
Mandatory (Minimum:1, Maximum: 1)
Occurrence
Europeana Simple Facet Timeline Advanced Full search result display
search and search search
display X X X X (More: Type Line)
features Type facet Type
<europeana:type>TEXT</europeana:type> (upper-case)
<europeana:type> IMAGE</europeana:type> (upper-case)
Example
<europeana:type>SOUND</europeana:type> (upper-case)
<europeana:type>VIDEO</europeana:type> (upper-case)

Element name: unstored

Namespace europeana
URI [Link]
Label Unstored
This is a container element which includes all relevant information that
Definition
otherwise cannot be mapped to another element in the ESE.
The <europeana:unstored> element is provided in order to include important
information for indexing purposes. All relevant information elements, which
Europeana cannot be mapped to another element in the ESE, should be mapped into this
note element.

This element is not available in “full search result display”.

Obligation &
Optional (Minimum: 0, Maximum: unbounded)
Occurrence
Europeana Simple Facet Timeline Advanced Full search result
search and search search display
display X

25
Europeana Semantic Elements specifications

features
<europeana:unstored> National Gallery, London</europeana:unstored>
Example (Where the National Gallery is the current location of the object; there is no
other element suitable for this information).

Element name: uri

Namespace europeana
URI [Link]
Label Europeana URI
Definition An unambiguous URI to the resource within Europeana’s context.
This is a record identifier for the object in the Europeana system. It is created
based on the unique identifiers provided in the source metadata.
Europeana
note Please note that in cases where a content provider supplies two or more
records with the same record identifier, only the first record is kept by
Europeana. Subsequent records with the same identifier are discarded.
Obligation &
Mandatory (Minimum: 1, Maximum: 1)
Occurrence
Europeana Simple Facet Timeline Advanced Full search result
search and search search display
display
features
<europeana:uri>
Example [Link]
</europeana:uri>

Element name: userTag

Namespace europeana
URI [Link]
Label User Tag
Definition This is a tag created by a user through the Europeana interface.
Europeana
These are tags created by registered users.
note
Obligation &
Optional (Minimum:0, Maximum: unbounded)
Occurrence
Europeana Simple Facet Timeline Advanced Full search result
search and search search display
display X X
features (User Tags Display)
Example <europeana:userTag>My favorite food!</europeana:userTag>

Element name: year

26
Europeana Semantic Elements specifications

Namespace europeana
URI [Link]
Label Europeana Year
A point of time associated with an event in the life of the original analog or
Definition
born digital object.
This is a 4 digit year in the Gregorian calendar (e.g. 1523), which is derived
from date values in the source metadata. Typically it is derived from
Europeana <dc:date>. It is used in the Europeana timeline and the date facet.
note
Objects with no <europeana:year> will not be represented in the Timeline or
the date facet.
Obligation &
Optional (Minimum:0, Maximum: unbounded)
Occurrence
Europeana Simple Facet Timeline Advanced Full search result
search and search search display
display X X X X X
features Date facet Date
Example <europeana:year>1523</europeana:year>

27
Europeana Semantic Elements specifications

5. Document history

Version Author Updated Comments

V0.5 Go Sugimoto 2008-07-04 Draft creation
V2.0 Catherine Lupovici 2008-08-28 Major change to include new elements
V2.5 Go Sugimoto 2008-09-10 Release to enable Europeana community
to undertake mappings
V3.0 Go Sugimoto 2008-12-04 Major change to include new elements
V3.1 Go Sugimoto and 2009-02-25 Public release
Kate Fernie
V3.2 Go Sugimoto and 2009-08-07 2nd edition of the public release.
Catherine Lupovici Modification of elements and attributes
definitions. This is required due to the
development of the Portal and content
policies. All related documents are now
consistent.

28