Latimer Core: A new data standard for collection descriptions

The Latimer Core (LtC) schema, named after Marjorie Courtenay-Latimer, is a standard designed to support the representation and discovery of natural science collections by structuring data about groups objects that those their subcomponents encompass. Individual items within are represented through other emerging or current standards (e.g., Darwin Core, ABCD). LtC classes properties aim represent information describes these groupings in enough detail inform deeper resources contained them. has been developed under Biodiversity Information Standards (TDWG) Collection Descriptions (CD) Interest Group, evolved from earlier work Natural (NCD) group. Version 1 includes 23 classes, each with two more (Fig. Suppl. material 1). central concept ObjectGroup class, which represents 'an intentionally grouped set one common characteristics'. Arranged around commonly used describe classify ObjectGroup, covering aspects custodianship, management tracking collections, generic class (MeasurementOrFact) for storing qualitative quantitative measures standard, structure description dataset. intended be sufficiently flexible scalable apply wide range collection use cases, describing overall holdings an institution contents single drawer material. Various approaches this flexibility, including organisations, people, roles identifiers, enabling relationships constructing models meet different cases. scheme introduced enable adopters specify rules specific implementation, demonstrated Fig. 2. Guidance reference examples modelling suit cases provided guidance documentation. significant overlap existing (Suppl. 2) represent, example, individual occurrences, people activities. Where possible, either borrowed terms directly less formally aligned Achieving balance between offering comprehensive stand alone maintains low technical barrier adoption whilst minimalising duplication effort context wider landscape notable challenge development process. draft was submitted TDWG Executive June 2022 begin process formal review ratification. This list GitHub wiki on concepts behind standard. In meantime, Task Group will continue working serialisations, infrastructures such as Distributed System Scientific Collections (DiSSCo) consortium, GBIF (Global Facility) Registry Collections, CETAF (Consortium European Taxonomic Facilities) Global Genome Network (GGBN) potential roadmaps towards adoption. presentation, we introduce key deliverables, highlight some challenges faced process, discuss community