Operational Metadata Standard Overview

Library and Archives Canada’s Operational Standard provides a baseline of metadata that government departments must maintain for their digital archival records.

• Operational Standard for Digital Archival Records’ Metadata

Supplementary guidance

To assist departments with their implementation of the Operational Standard, supplementary guidance pieces have also been developed:

• Introducing Metadata for Digital Archival Records provides basic information about the concepts of the Operational Standard
• TBS Policy Context describes how the Operational Standard (and the Metadata Reference Standard) work with other TBS policies
• General Application Guidance answers questions raised during consultations about the Operational Standard
• Analysis - Repeatability of Concepts provides a breakdown of where the metadata is to be collected (at the file, aggregation or transfer level)

Context

In June 2025, the TBS Metadata Reference Standard (MDRS), based on LAC’s Operational Standard for Digital Archival Records’ Metadata, was released.

As required under section 6 of the Treasury Board Secretariat’s Directive on Service and Digital, all departments must adopt and implement the MDRS to ensure consistent, reliable, and long-term management of digital archival government records.

Please note that the MDRS does not introduce new metadata requirements; rather, it reinforces those already outlined in LAC’s Operational Standard.