When you contribute a resource using the Contribute a Resource form, you are asked to provide detailed information about your resource. The Sandbox provides the following metadata fields for resources contributed, which enhance their discoverability:
Title: This required field is where you apply a title to the resource record you are creating. Each resource can contain one or more attachments and/or links to materials hosted elsewhere. Be sure to create a title that is succinct yet descriptive of the materials you are including in this resource. The Title field is searchable in the RESOURCES search box, so the more precise your title is, the more discoverable your resource will be.
Description of Resource: This required field is where you can provide more information about the resource and the materials included in it, including the context in which the materials were created and used. The Description of Resource field is searchable in the RESOURCES search box, so the more detailed your description is, the more discoverable your resource will be.
Resource Materials: This section of the Contribute a Resource form is where you make your materials available to those searching and browsing the Sandbox. Materials can be either attachments that you have permission to upload or links to your materials hosted elsewhere. You may upload one or more attachments and/or add one or more links; you are not required to include both, though you can if appropriate for your resource. For attachment parameters, see allowed file types and file size limit for more information; please note as well that the attachment will display with its filename as its name, so name your files clearly and succinctly. For links, you must include a URL and may also include display text.
Resource Type(s): This required field is where you identify the formats and genres for the materials you are including in your resource. Of the options available, you may choose all that apply for the resource, or select “Other” if you do not see a resource type listed that describes your materials; in this case, you can also Suggest a New Resource Type. Many materials may be described by more than one resource type: in these cases, select all that apply to enhance the discoverability of your resource. The Resource Type(s) field is a filter on the Browse Resources page, is searchable in the RESOURCES search box, and is clickable within resource records.
Information Literacy Frame(s) Addressed: This required field is where you identify which information literacy frame(s) from the ACRL Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education your resource addresses. Of the options available, you may choose all that apply for the resource; in addition to the six frames, there is also an option “Framework as a Whole” which would apply to materials that do not address one or more specific frame. The Information Literacy Frame(s) Addressed field is a filter on the Browse Resources page, is searchable in the RESOURCES search box, and is clickable within resource records.
Discipline(s): This required field is where you identify the discipline(s) to which your resource applies. Of the options available, you may choose all that apply for the resource, or select “Other” if you do not see a discipline listed that describes your materials; in this case, you can also Suggest a New Discipline. Alternately, you may choose “Not Discipline Specific” if your materials do not relate to any discipline. Many materials may be described by more than one discipline: in these cases, select all that apply to enhance the discoverability of your resource. The Discipline(s) field is a filter on the Browse Resources page, is searchable in the RESOURCES search box, and is clickable within resource records.
Type of Institution: This required field is where you identify the type of institution in which the materials included in your resource were created. Of the options available, you may choose all that apply for the resource, or select “Other” if you do not see an institution type that describes your context. Note that the institution types included in this field are designed to align with the ACRL sections that focus on different institutional contexts, so when you select a type or types of institution, keep these communities of practice in mind to enhance the discoverability of your resource. You may also select “Not Applicable” if your resource was created outside of a specific institutional context. The Type of Institution field is a filter on the Browse Resources page, is searchable in the RESOURCES search box, and is clickable within resource records.
Scope: This required field is where you identify the instructional scope of the materials included in your resource. Of the options available, you may choose all that apply for the resource, or select “Other” if your materials do not fit within any of the scopes listed. Options range from classroom-level to professional development, and many resources will be usable in more than one scope of practice, in which case select all that apply to increase the discoverability of your resource. The Scope field is a filter on the Browse Resources page, is searchable in the RESOURCES search box, and is clickable within resource records.
Tags: This optional field allows you to add additional tags to your resource record as a way to further describe your resource. Tags are searchable in the RESOURCES search box and clickable within resource records.
License Assigned: This field is where you indicate the license you are assigning to the materials included in your resource. This informs searchers within the Sandbox the manner in which your materials may be reused, adapted, or distributed in other contexts. The license All Rights Reserved is set as this field’s default option, or you may choose to assign a Creative Commons license to the materials included in your resource. In the spirit of sharing and openness, it is highly encouraged that you consider assigning to your resource a Creative Commons license, as long as you have the permission and right to do so. The License Assigned field is a filter on the Browse Resources page and is searchable in the RESOURCES search box.
Additional Contributors: This optional field allows you to add other Sandbox contributors to your resource record. This field would be used if a colleague collaborated in creating the materials included in this resource, and that colleague already has a Sandbox contributor account. By adding the colleague or colleagues to your resource as Additional Contributors, you are linking your resource record to their contributor account and profile page.
Other Attribution Information: This optional field allows you to add other attribution information to your resource record. This field provides a way to acknowledge additional collaborators on your resource materials, even if they are not contributors in the Sandbox. This field would be used if a colleague or colleagues collaborated in creating the materials included in this resource, and they do not have a Sandbox contributor account. This field is also where you may acknowledge any sponsoring organizations or bodies, such as your institution or related consortia, who have played a role in the development of the materials contributed in your resource.