Memuliakan Batik : Preserving Batik as Digital Cultural Heritage through Standard Metadata

Abstract This study introduces a metadata framework for the digital documentation of batik, adapted from the Europeana data model (EDM). EDM was selected for its adaptability, user-friendly interoperability, and commitment to data openness – qualities that suit the documentation and preservation of cultural heritage. The framework clarifies object descriptions within batik collections to improve their efficiency and precision. We implemented it on the 154-item Afifah House of Batik collection, with an emphasis on endangered Rifaiyah and Batang traditions. In our model, Batik is represented as edm:ProvidedCHO, its digital surrogates as edm:WebResource, and motifs as skos:Concept linked via the dcterms:subject. This structure yields a clear separation between objects and files, authority-based linking for places and agents, and hierarchical motif browsing (e.g., Kawung within geometric families). By establishing coherent relationships among the Batik, Motif, and Digitalization entities, the framework supports both physical and digital representations and promotes accessibility and interoperability across repositories. The workflow is tool-agnostic and can be implemented with standard cataloging systems and batch exports to interoperable formats (e.g., CSV/XML/RDF), making it readily replicable for small and mid-sized museums and archives alike.