ISAD

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Add/edit descriptions: ISAD(G) elements

Main Page > User manual > UM-3 Add / edit content > UM3.1 Add / edit descriptions > UM-3.1.4 ISAD(G) elements

Identity area

Edit archival description: identity area


The identity area contains fields for conveying "essential information ... to identify the unit of description" (ISAD(G) I.11).


1. Reference code

  • For unique identification, the reference code may contain any or all of the following elements:
    • "the country code in accordance with the latest version of ISO 3166 Codes for the representation of names of countries;
    • the repository code in accordance with the national repository code standard or other unique location identifier;
    • a specific local reference code, control number, or other unique identifier.
  • All three elements must be present for the purpose of information exchange at the international level." (ISAD(G) 3.1.1)
  • Information entered into the identifier field at lower levels of description will appear as part of the reference code when the archival description is saved and displayed.
  • Note that the reference code will not be displayed in either the edit screen or view screen for any description that does not have its own identifier.


2. Title

  • "Provide either a formal title or a concise supplied title in accordance with the rules of multilevel description and national conventions.
  • If appropriate, abridge a long formal title, but only if this can be done without loss of essential information.
  • For supplied titles, at the higher level, include the name of the creator of the records. At lower levels one may include, for example, the name of the author of the document and a term indicating the form of the material comprising the unit of description and, where appropriate, a phrase reflecting function, activity, subject, location, or theme.
  • Distinguish between formal and supplied titles according to national or language conventions." (ISAD(G) 3.1.2)


3. Title note

  • This is a multi-value field for registering and displaying the notes relating to the title of the unit of description.
  • Enter the note; when you click the save button in the button block the note will be registered and will now appear in the list above the data entry fields.
  • There is no limit to the number of title notes you can add, but as of the current version of ICA-AtoM (v1.0 beta) you can only register them one at a time: i.e. enter the data, click the save button and repeat for each additional note.
  • To delete a title note, click the delete icon.
  • Title notes also appear with other notes in the notes area.


4. Level of description


5. Parent level:

  • Select the unit immediately above the current one in the hierarchy of arrangement (the parent record).
  • Leave blank if the current unit represents the highest level of arrangement (e.g. a fonds).


6. Extent and medium

  • "Record the extent of the unit of description by giving the number of physical or logical units in arabic numerals and the unit of measurement. Give the specific medium (media) of the unit of description.
  • Alternatively, give the linear shelf space or cubic storage space of the unit of description. If the statement of extent for a unit of description is given in linear terms and additional information is desirable, add the additional information in parentheses." (ISAD(G) 3.1.5)


7. Note that the ISAD(G) Dates element (ISAD(G) 3.1.3) is implemented by ICA-AtoM in the context area, where dates are linked to a creator in a creation event.


Context area

Archival description: context area
Archival description: context area (cont'd)
Click on the edit icon to edit the administrative history in the related authority record


The context area contains fields for conveying "information about the origin and custody of the unit of description" (ISAD(G) I.11).


Note that date ranges are handled in ICA-AtoM as creation events and recorded in this information area rather than the identity area as per ISAD(G).


1. Creation context

  • This is a multi-value field for registering and displaying creation and other events (dates of publication, accumulation, etc.).
  • Enter the event data (see steps 2-4 below); when you click the save button in the button block the events will be registered and will now appear in the list below the data entry fields.
  • To delete an event, click the delete icon next to it in the list.
  • For rules and examples relating to dates and creators, see ISAD(G) 3.1.3 and 3.2.1.


2. New event:

  • Click the add new link under Name. A dialogue box will open up for data entry and the rest of the screen will go grey.
  • For a creation event, select Creation from the drop-down menu under event type.
  • Select the creator's name from the creator drop-down menu under name (generated from the names of all existing authority records).
  • If the creator's name does not appear in the menu, use the add new name field to to the right to enter the name. Note that this automatically creates a new authority record.
  • If you select a name from the drop-down list, ICA-AtoM will ignore any text you may have entered in the add new name field.
  • Note that you can leave both of these fields blank; in this case, the unit will inherit creator information from its parent record.
  • At the highest level of description, you should always include the creator; the administrative / biographical history is drawn from the creator's authority record.
  • Lower levels inherit creator information from higher levels: use only if the creator is different at the lower and higher levels.
  • If applicable, select a location from the place drop-down menu to the right of the event type field (generated from the places taxonomy)
  • Add the start and end year and date display if applicable (see steps 3 and 4, below)
  • If applicable, add a note in the note field.
  • Click submit. You will be returned to the original screen. To add other events, repeat the process as often as needed. Note that you must save the record before leaving the edit screen or you will lose all of the data you have just entered.


3. Year / End year

  • Enter the opening and closing years of the date range.
  • ICA-AtoM uses these values for sorting and searching purposes.
  • Use only four-digit numbers.
  • If the start and end years are the same, enter only in the year and leave the end year blank.
  • Complete at lower levels of description even if you are leaving the creator name field blank (e.g. when describing a series, you do not need to repeat the creator name from the fonds description, but you do need to enter the date range of the series).
  • Do not use any qualifiers here (e.g. "ca.") or typographical symbols (e.g. "[194?]") to express uncertainty (see step 4).


4. Date display

  • Enter the date range as you want it to appear in view mode.
  • Add any additional text to qualify date range (e.g. "ca. 1940-1980" or "[1940]-1980, predominant 1973-1980").
  • Whereas creation year and end year are used internally for database searching and sorting purposes, this field is for display purposes.


5. Administrative / biographical history

  • "Record concisely any significant information on the origin, progress, development and work of the organization (or organizations) or on the life and work of the individual (or individuals) responsible for the creation of the archival unit. If additional information is available in a published source, cite the source. The Information Areas of ISAAR(CPF) suggest specific informational elements that may be included in this element. For persons or families record information such as full names and titles, dates of birth and death, place of birth, successive places of domicile, activities, occupation or offices, original and any other names, significant accomplishments, and place of death." (ISAD(G) 3.2.2)
  • If you have registered more than one creator in the creator context area, the administrative histories / biographical sketches of each will appear here sequentially, separated by a line.


6. Repository


7. Immediate source of acquisition

  • "Record the source from which the unit of description was acquired and the date and/or method of acquisition if any or all of this information is not confidential. If the source is unknown, record that information. Optionally, add accession numbers or codes." (ISAD(G) 3.2.4)


8. Archival history

  • "Record the successive transfers of ownership, responsibility and/or custody of the unit of description and indicate those actions, such as history of the arrangement, production of contemporary finding aids, re-use of the records for other purposes or software migrations, that have contributed to its present structure and arrangement. Give the dates of these actions, insofar as they can be ascertained. If the archival history is unknown, record that information. Optionally, when the unit of description is acquired directly from the creator, do not record an archival history but rather, record this information as the immediate source of acquisition." (See 3.2.4). (ISAD(G) 3.2.3)


Content and structure area

Edit archival description: content and structure area


The content and structure area contains fields that convey information "about the subject matter and arrangement of the unit of description" (ISAD(G) I.11).


1. Scope and content

  • "Give a summary of the scope (such as time periods and geographical location) and content, (such as documentary forms, subject matter and administrative processes) of the records, appropriate to the level of description." (ISAD(G) 3.3.1)


2. Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information

  • "Record appraisal, destruction and scheduling actions taken on or planned for the records, especially if they may affect the interpretation of the material. Where appropriate, record the authority for the action." (ISAD(G) 3.3.2)


3. Accruals

  • "Indicate if accruals are expected. Where appropriate, give an estimate of their quantity and frequency." (ISAD(G) 3.3.3)


4. System of arrangement

  • "Specify the internal structure, order and/or the system of classification of the unit of description. Note how these have been treated by the archivist. For electronic records, record or reference information on system design. Alternatively, include any of this information in the scope and content element (3.3.1) according to national conventions." (ISAD(G) 3.3.4)


Conditions of access and use area

Archival description: Conditions of access and use area

Main Page > (UM) User manual > UM-3 Add / edit content > UM3.1 Add / edit archival descriptions > UM-3.1.7 Conditions of access and use area

Edit archival description: conditions of access and use area


The conditions of access and use area contains fields that convey information "about the availability of the unit of description" (ISAD(G) I.11).


1. Conditions governing access

  • "Specify the law or legal status, contract, regulation or policy that affects access to the unit of description. Indicate the extent of the period of closure and the date at which the material will open when appropriate." (ISAD(G) 3.4.1)


2. Conditions governing reproduction

  • "Give information about conditions, such as copyright, governing the reproduction of the unit of description after access has been provided. If the existence of such conditions is unknown, record this. If there are no conditions, no statement is necessary." (ISAD(G) 3.4.2)


3. Language of material and Script of material

  • "Record the language(s) and/or script(s) of the materials comprising the unit of description. Note any distinctive alphabets, scripts, symbol systems or abbreviations employed. Optionally, also include the appropriate ISO codes for language(s) (ISO 639-1 and ISO 639-2: International Standards for Language Codes) or script(s), (ISO 15924: International Standard for Names of Scripts)." (ISAD(G) 3.4.3)
  • Select the language and script. When you click the save button in the button block, ICA-AtoM registers the values and displays them in the list above the data entry field.
  • There is no limit to the number of languages or scripts you can add.


4. Physical characteristics

  • "Indicate any important physical conditions, such as preservation requirements, that affect the use of the unit of description. Note any software and/or hardware required to access the unit of description." (ISAD(G) 3.4.3)


5. Finding aids

  • "Give information about any finding aids that the repository or records creator may have that provide information relating to the context and contents of the unit of description. If appropriate, include information on where to obtain a copy." (ISAD(G) 3.4.5)


Allied materials area

Archival description: Allied materials area


The allied materials area contains fields that convey information "about materials having an important relationship to the unit of description)" (ISAD(G) I.11).


1. Location of originals

  • "If the original of the unit of description is available (either in the institution or elsewhere) record its location, together with any significant control numbers. If the originals no longer exist, or their location is unknown, give that information." (ISAD(G) 3.5.1)


2. Location of copies

  • "If the copy of the unit of description is available (either in the institution or elsewhere) record its location, together with any significant control numbers." (ISAD(G) 3.5.2)


3. Related units of description

  • "Record information about units of description in the same repository or elsewhere that are related by provenance or other association(s). Use appropriate introductory wording and explain the nature of the relationship . If the related unit of description is a finding aid, use the finding aids element of description (ISAD(G) 3.4.5) to make the reference to it." (ISAD(G) 3.5.3)


4. Publication note

  • "Record a citation to, and/or information about a publication that is about or based on the use, study, or analysis of the unit of description. Include references to published facsimiles or transcriptions." (ISAD(G) 3.5.4).
  • Enter the note; when you click the save button in the button block the note will be registered and will now appear in a list above the data entry field.
  • There is no limit to the number of publication notes you can add, but as of the current version of ICA-AtoM (v1.0 beta) you can only register them one at a time: i.e. enter the data, click the save button and repeat for each additional note.
  • To delete a publication note, click the delete icon next to it in the list.


Notes area

Edit archival description: notes area


The notes area contains fields that convey "specialized information and information that cannot be accommodated in any of the other areas" (ISAD(G) I.11).


1. Notes

  • "Record specialized or other important information not accommodated by any of the defined elements of description." (ISAD(G) 3.6.1)
  • ICA-AtoM implements this ISAD(G) data element as a multi-value field for registering and displaying notes. It will display title notes that were registered in the identity area UM-3.1.1 and publication notes that were registered in the allied materials area (UM-3.1.8).
  • Enter note data (steps 2-3 below); when you click the save button in the button block the note will be registered and will now appear in the list above the data entry fields.
  • There is no limit to the number of notes you can add, but as of the current version of ICA-AtoM (v1.0 beta) you can only register them one at a time: i.e. enter the data, click the save button and repeat for each additional note.
  • To delete a note, click the delete icon next to it in the list.


2. Note

  • Enter the note text.


3. Note type

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