MMI: What We Don't Do
As wide as MMI ranges, some things are beyond us, and some are not appropriate to our mission. (And some things we just do not do yet!) To minimize confusion, we've laid out a few of the things we are not doing below.
We don't do Data Storage or Cataloging.
MMI eventually wants to describe existing repositories and catalogs for data, and plans to characterize them using our understanding of best practices. We've taken a step toward that with our Science Metadata Training related to clearinghouses. But the MMI site does not contain any science data or metadata. For catalogs and access points to actual data, try SIOExplorer, NOAA NGDC, and Davey Jones' Locker, among many others.
We don't Define or Approve Standards.
There are many standards organizations in the world, doing a fine job. We are trying to describe them so that you can tell the difference between them. (Occasionally MMI may start development of a community specification, like the Image Metadata Specification, but we do not make this a common practice.)
We don't provide references for Data Systems or Data Processing.
Our focus is on metadata, and there is more than enough work in that arena to keep us busy. Sometimes we have to deal with data protocols in order to move the metadata practices forward—our support of OOSTethys is an example of using a data exchange protocol to demonstrate sophisticated metadata practices. But we try to keep the emphasis on the metadata.
Things we don't do ... yet
Consumer reports for metadata: in the future?
Many people have asked us for Consumer Report-style recommendations on metadata standards, vocabularies, tools, and other resources. Unfortunately, creating this kind of resource and keeping it current is beyond our current capabilities, especially because the "best" tool or approach is often very specific to the task. In the meantime, please see our Guides for information on selecting standards, vocabularies and tools, and our extensive References section to search for resources.
