Metadata is commonly referred to as "information about information." A more apt definition might read: a formalization of technical and implicit knowledge laid over the information-bearing object. Metadata no longer is a concern for library catalogers and museum registrars. Digital information's inherent vice lies in its ephemerality. The lag time from creation to preservation for a digital object is non-existent. The importance of preparing for a digital object's life cycle at the point of inception is tantamount to its preservation. To attain persistent retention of digital information metadata is required to record information about the object and to track the digital object's life cycle. This is a common understanding in the museum and archival worlds. The provenance of an artifact is fundamental to determining the artifact's authenticity and physical integrity. The alteration of a painting by a restorer can significantly affect the value of the painting. In the digital realm, this information is even more important since mutability of a digital information object is so easy. Guaranteeing authenticity requires authenticating the digital information object at the point of creation. Metadata serves not only as a necessary tool for the preservation of digital information objects. It is equally important for the discovery, access, and management of digital information objects.