Object description (recommended)

Contents

1 Definition
2 Other possible database element names
3 Text/URI
4 Repeatable
5 Obligation level
6 Recording notes
7 Examples
8 Expression in LIDO v1.0
9 Expression in LIDO v1.1
10 Comparison with relevant standards and database models
11 ID data element

Definition

Textual description of the object or work

Other possible database element names

Description

Text/URI

Text

Repeatable

Yes

Obligation level

Recommended

(museum-digital: Mandatory)

Recording notes

The object description should describe the object or work briefly and concisely. It should be written in a way that requires as little prior knowledge as possible and is understandable to a wide audience. The object description should contain as many relevant keywords as possible to make it easier to find the object record in a free text search. If the object description text is subject to special usage rights (e.g. copyright), this should be indicated in a separate data element (in LIDO: <lido:objectDescriptionRights>, from LIDO v1.1).

AI writing assistants can be used to generate inclusive description texts. However, the result should always be checked by an editor and amended if necessary.

Examples

The façade architecture of the cabinet is modelled on ancient theatres. With its ingenious system of compartments and drawers, it was used to store the treasures collected in the Kunstkammer. As well as being functional furniture, the cabinet itself is also a work of art. The ivory panels show extensive imagery: the founders of the four great empires of Antiquity and the deeds of the virtuous ancient hero Hercules. The pull-out writing tablet contains a rotatable world map that refers to the Habsburgs and suggests that the cabinet was made for King Phillip II of Spain.

Expression in LIDO v1.0

<lido:objectDescriptionWrap>
	<lido:objectDescriptionSet>
		<lido:descriptiveNoteValue xml:lang="de">Die Fassadenarchitektur des Kabinettschranks findet ihr Vorbild im antiken Theaterbau. Mit seinem ausgeklügelten System von Fächern und Schubladen diente er zur Aufbewahrung von gesammelten Kostbarkeiten der Kunstkammer. Über seine Bestimmung zum funktionalen Möbel hinaus ist der Schrank selbst auch als Kunstwerk zu verstehen. Die Elfenbeintafeln zeigen ein umfangreiches Bildprogramm: die Gründer der vier großen Weltreiche des Altertums und die Taten des tugendhaften antiken Helden Herkules. Die ausziehbare Schreibplatte enthält eine drehbare Weltkarte, die auf die Habsburger verweist und vermuten lässt, dass das Kabinettmöbel für König Phillipp II. von Spanien angefertigt worden ist.</lido:descriptiveNoteValue>
		<lido:descriptiveNoteValue xml:lang="en">The façade architecture of the cabinet is modelled on ancient theatres. With its ingenious system of compartments and drawers, it was used to store the treasures collected in the Kunstkammer. As well as being functional furniture, the cabinet itself is also a work of art. The ivory panels show extensive imagery: the founders of the four great empires of Antiquity and the deeds of the virtuous ancient hero Hercules. The pull-out writing tablet contains a rotatable world map that refers to the Habsburgs and suggests that the cabinet was made for King Phillip II of Spain.</lido:descriptiveNoteValue>
	</lido:objectDescriptionSet>
</lido:objectDescriptionWrap>

Expression in LIDO v1.1

(Including <lido:objectDescriptionRights>)

<lido:objectDescriptionWrap>
	<lido:objectDescriptionSet>
		<lido:descriptiveNoteValue xml:lang="de">Die Fassadenarchitektur des Kabinettschranks findet ihr Vorbild im antiken Theaterbau. Mit seinem ausgeklügelten System von Fächern und Schubladen diente er zur Aufbewahrung von gesammelten Kostbarkeiten der Kunstkammer. Über seine Bestimmung zum funktionalen Möbel hinaus ist der Schrank selbst auch als Kunstwerk zu verstehen. Die Elfenbeintafeln zeigen ein umfangreiches Bildprogramm: die Gründer der vier großen Weltreiche des Altertums und die Taten des tugendhaften antiken Helden Herkules. Die ausziehbare Schreibplatte enthält eine drehbare Weltkarte, die auf die Habsburger verweist und vermuten lässt, dass das Kabinettmöbel für König Phillipp II. von Spanien angefertigt worden ist.</lido:descriptiveNoteValue>
		<lido:descriptiveNoteValue xml:lang="en">The façade architecture of the cabinet is modelled on ancient theatres. With its ingenious system of compartments and drawers, it was used to store the treasures collected in the Kunstkammer. As well as being functional furniture, the cabinet itself is also a work of art. The ivory panels show extensive imagery: the founders of the four great empires of Antiquity and the deeds of the virtuous ancient hero Hercules. The pull-out writing tablet contains a rotatable world map that refers to the Habsburgs and suggests that the cabinet was made for King Phillip II of Spain.</lido:descriptiveNoteValue>
        <lido:objectDescriptionRights>
			<lido:rightsType>
				<skos:Concept rdf:about="http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/">
					<skos:prefLabel xml:lang="de">CC0 1.0 Universell</skos:prefLabel>
					<skos:prefLabel xml:lang="en">CC0 1.0 Universal</skos:prefLabel>
				</skos:Concept>
			</lido:rightsType>
		</lido:objectDescriptionRights>
	</lido:objectDescriptionSet>
</lido:objectDescriptionWrap>

Comparison with relevant standards and database models

Standard	Element name	Text/URI	Repeatable	Obligation level	Comment
German Digital Library: Metadata requirements for data provision	(No match)	Not applicable	Not applicable	Not applicable
German Digital Library LIDO application profile (DDB-LIDO)	<objectDescriptionSet>/<descriptiveNoteValue>	Text	Yes	Conditionally mandatory Recommended	Mandatory if sub-elements exist.
CCC-LIDO Application profile	Description <objectDescriptionSet>/<descriptiveNoteValue>	Text	Yes	Recommended
DFG Basic Data Record	Source Object Description	URI	Not specified	Recommended
DFG Practical Guidelines on Digitisation: LIDO core metadata	Object description <objectDescriptionSet>	Text and/or URI	Yes	Recommended
Europeana Data Model (EDM)	<dc:description>	Text	Yes	Conditionally mandatory	In Europeana Data Model <dc:title> (Object title) OR <dc:description> (Object description) are mandatory.
EODEM application profile	Brief Description /lido:objectDescriptionWrap/lido:objectDescriptionSet/ lido:descriptiveNoteValue		No	Recommended
Categories for the Description of Works of Art (2024)	18.1. Descriptive Note Text	Text	No	Not mandatory	Additional elements are recommended to describe specific aspects: Abstract Description, Pagination Description, Foliation Description, Extent Description, Arrangement Description.
CDWA Lite (2006)	17.1 Description/Descriptive Note Set	Text	Yes	Not mandatory
Spectrum 5.1	Brief description Physical description	Text	No	Recommended	"Brief description" is a core element. The obligation level is determined by the institution.
digiCULT	Beschreibung [eng.: Description]	Text	Yes	Recommended	In digiCULT, for legal reasons, when data is made available via the OAI interface, the description is not included by default.
museum-digital	Description	Text	No	Mandatory	In museum-digital the object description is mandatory. The text has a minimum length of 25 characters.

ID data element

mds0005