Lara Whitelaw

I am University Metadata Development Manager based within the Information Management team in Library Services. In my current role I help develop and promote metadata policies and strategies for the university and try to ensure the most appropriate methods of describing both OU learning materials and business content are being used. I chair the Web Standard for Metadata working group and provide advice and guidance on how to add metadata to web pages and associate resources.

I am passionate about making our resources more findable and how interconnecting our information can make it stronger and more discoverable. I am particularly interested in metadata schemas and Linked Data taxonomies, such as Dublin Core; Learning Resource Metadata Initiative (LRMI); schema.org; and Higher Education Classification of Subjects (HECoS).

Prior to joining the Open University in 2003 I worked the Collections and Systems Manager for the Visual Arts Data Service developing the metadata and classification structures for the service; as well as advising JISC and AHRC funded projects on metadata and taxonomies.

I was award UKeiG Information Manager of the Year 2015, have a degree in the History of Art, Design and Film and PGD in Information and Library Studies.