System-level Metadata Record Creation Guidance

This document provides best practices for creating a FGDC CSDGM metadata record that describe a system containing multiple datasets and/or metadata. Please note this document does not address every field in the FGDC CSDGM standard. The USGS Core Science Analytics Synthesis and Libraries Program created this guidance for use in USGS, particularly for records included in the USGS Science Data Catalog. For more information on metadata and metadata tools, see the USGS Data Management Website.