Three mavens of the cataloging world tackle the topic of metadata, explaining fundamental concepts and their accompanying rationales, as well as exploring current developments and future innovations in the library world. Part One examines the characteristics of multiple metadata schema, the creation of metadata for both monographic and continuous electronic resources, and its integration into local catalogs and databases. Part Two explores metadata's effect on current developments in online reference, choice of metadata schema, archiving, and digital preservation, and professional education, as well as future innovations yet unborn. A must-read for sophisticated information specialists, as well as for those who aspire to similar heights of intellectual worldliness.