Semantic Library Learning Program

Preprint: The world of information technology is awash in talk of metadata. Everyone today seems to be creating a metadata format. There is a tag in HTML to carry metadata for Internet resources; scientists have developed metadata to describe genomes; publishers have a metadata format to facilitate the transfer of promotion and price data to retailers. What is happening in the world of technology that is leading everyone to believe that metadata is the answer? Alternatively, if metadata is the answer, what is the question, and what does it mean for libraries and library catalogs?