Abstract: [Purpose/Significance] This paper investigates and summarizes the characteristics of open metadata service in foreign libraries, which can provide reference for the research of open metadata service in domestic libraries in the future. [Design/Methodology] Based on the investigation of open metadata services on typical foreign libraries, this paper summarizes the development stages of open metadata service, and their service policies, metadata resources, license agreements, service methods, and utilization of resources, and also analyze the characteristics of open metadata services in five aspects. [Findings/Conclusion] The open metadata services in foreign libraries not only have advanced service policies, massive and diverse metadata resources, standardized license agreements, flexible and innovative service methods, but also support the development and utilization of the metadata. [Originality/Value] There are few researches on library open metadata services in China at present. This paper selects typical library open metadata services in foreign countries to investigate their development status and summarize their characteristics in detail.

Key words: Open metadata service, Cataloging, License agreements, Libraries, Service policy