1. A method for displaying, capturing and using document metadata within result presentations in information access systems, or in information search systems, wherein the method comprises steps for applying a query to a set of documents, identifying matching documents, and producing a result page with at least one of the most relevant documents, wherein the method includes using a metadata server capable of storing metadata associated with any searchable document, and providing means within the result page for end users of the information access or search system to view and edit metadata associated with the returned documents from the metadata server, and wherein the method is characterized by using the metadata server for automatically creating metadata objects associated with any combination of document, query and document position in the result set for the query.