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Metadata Encoding and Transmission Standard (METS)

METS Editorial Board
United States of America
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About

Launched: 2001
Record Updated: Oct 17, 2025
Standard, specification or protocol
METS, the Metadata Encoding & Transmission Standard, has been used for describing digital objects since 2001. The METS XML schema is used both as an interchange and a storage format by numerous systems in the digital preservation space. A METS document can describe the files that make up a digital object, their structural relationship to each other, and include a variety of metadata about the digital object and its component files.

Mission

METS is a digital object encoding and transmission specification -- targeted to meet the needs of communities responsible for the management and transmission of digital content, such as libraries, archives, museums. By using METS, such communities can record descriptive, administrative, and structural metadata about a digital artifact and its components into a single hub document.

Key Achievements

METS is currently in use by a variety of systems in the digital preservation space, including Archivematica, ArchiveSpace, DSpace, Rosetta, and many others.
The METS Editorial Board released version 2 of the METS schema in March, 2025. METS version 2 simplifies the schema, makes it more consistent, and removes reliance on the outdated XLink standard. It aims to retain a clear path for migration from METS 1 for most use cases.

Technical Attributes

Maintenance Status

Actively Maintained

Open Code Repository

Implemented
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Technical Documentation

Implemented
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Code License

Implemented
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Open Product Roadmap

Implemented
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Technical Attribute Statements

Programming Languages

XML schema

Technology Readiness Level

  • Actual system proven in operational environment

Code Licenses Used

CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication

Content Licensing

  • Creative commons licenses

Standards

Metadata

METS supports embedding or linking to any kind of metadata, and is especially suited for XML metadata.

Persistent Identifier

METS supports linking to objects with any kind of persistent identifiers.

Preservation

  • OAIS

Integrations

Refer to https://coptr.digipres.org/index.php/METS_(Metadata_Encoding_and_Transmission_Standard) for a list of systems and tools that use METS.

Community Engagement

Community Engagement

Implemented
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Contribution Guidelines or Fora

Implemented
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Community Statements

User Contribution Pathways

  • Contribute to code
  • Contribute to documentation
  • Contribute to education or training
  • Contribute to user research or user testing

Community Engagement Activities

  • Conference participation
  • Mailing lists and discussion forums (including Slack)

Policies & Governance

Governance Summary

The METS schema is maintained by the METS Editorial Board, an international group of volunteers who represent important communities of interest for METS.

Policies

Bylaws

Implemented
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Governance Records

Implemented
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Governance Structure & Processes

Implemented
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Policy Statements

Board Structure

  • Advisory board or steering committee

Board Level

The METS Editorial Board is responsible for maintenance of the METS schema and its documentation and for engaging with the METS user community.

Community Governance

  • Ad hoc

Additional Information

Organizational History

The METS XML schema was created in 2001 under the sponsorship of the Digital Library Federation (DLF). The METS schema and documentation is hosted by the Library of Congress. METS is governed by the METS Editorial Board, which functions as an independent community group.

Organizational Structure

Business or Ownership Model

Volunteer community

Full-time Staff

0

Volunteers

1-5

Current Affiliations

Library of Congress provides hosting support for the METS schema; the METS editorial board functions as an independent community group.

Funding

Primary Funding Source

No direct funding

Funding Needs

Members of the METS editorial board are reliant on in-kind support from their home institutions through travel and time to support the work of the METS editorial board.
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