This publication examines how metadata can be made more sustainable, interoperable, and reusable across archives, libraries, museums, and research infrastructures. It highlights key challenges such as inconsistent standards, fragmented systems, and the growing volume of digital and born‑digital material. Through case studies from projects like EHRI, Europeana, and national web‑archiving initiatives, it presents practical solutions including metadata standardization, Linked Open Data, automated enrichment, and improved harvesting workflows. The work emphasizes cross‑institutional collaboration and outlines a future vision in which shared standards, automation, and open science strengthen global access to cultural heritage data.