import json


def decode_meta(value):
    """Decode a specific metadata value, metadata are stored as JSON
    
    :param value: the metadata stored in a JSON string
    :type value: str
    
    :return: the decoded metadata
    :rtype: depends on the value, can be str, list, dict, ...
    """
    try:
        # Values are stored as json strings
        val = json.loads(value)
    except ValueError:
        val = value
    return val