administrative metadata means the expansion of the metadata research to the administrative level of resource development. based on the basic administrative sections in the information resource lifecycle (irl), the framework for basic administrative metadata (fbam) is helpful in constructing open interoperable platforms for acquisition, processing and services of information resources in digital libraries. it facilitates the seamless communication, the cooperative construction and management, and the sharing of digital resources. the formulation of fbam follows the principles of modularity and openness that promote interoperability in resource management. it also adopts the structured methodology of information system design, with which the fbam data model is developed in conformity with and premis. the capabilities of fram are driven by a metadata repository with administrative information that is contained in fbam records.