Validating with meaning: syntactic and semantic validation of the E-ARK SIP

This eArchiving Initiative training webinar explores the practical steps meemoo took to create a tailored Submission Information Package (SIP) based on the E-ARK specifications. As a non-profit organisation, with help from the Flemish Government, meemoo supports the digital archive operations of cultural, media and government organisations. As an organisation, it is required to manage the full range of data objects, from simple to complex, with heterogeneous metadata. Tailoring the E-ARK SIP allowed the organisation to significantly improve the rate at which its digital collections can grow. This has led to quicker publication of materials on various dissemination platforms.

Using the meemoo case study as its foundation, the session explores why a SIP is needed and review the attributes of the E-ARK SIP. It then focuses on the specific approach the organisation took with the E-ARK SIP, including combining syntactic and semantic validation of the E-ARK SIP at the time of ingest, using XML Document Schema (XSD) for the syntactic validation and Shapes Constraint Language (SHACL) for semantic validation (after converting/transforming the descriptive metadata of the SIP into an Resource Description Framework (RDF graph). It explores the creation of the RDF graph and the ‘content profiles’ in detail.

The session concludes with the lessons learned and ways forward and consider how implementing the E-ARK specifications by meemoo can be a model for other cultural heritage institutions aiming to enhance their digital archiving capabilities.

To download the slides of this webinar click here.