Introduction
ISAD(G) (General International Standard Archival Description) defines according to International Council of Archives (ICA) the standard to register archival documents produced by corporations, persons and families. It defines a list of elements and rules for the description of archives and describes the kinds of information that must and should be included in such descriptions.
Principles
According to Wikipedia ISAD(G) follows 4 general principles:
- Description from the general to the specific: Multilevel description starts from a general level of description, which is usually the fonds, and proceeds to more detailed levels, such as the subfonds, the series, the file, the item, etc. This hierarchical structure must be represented and properly defined in the archival description.
- Information relevant to the level of description: Information in each level of description must be related only to the archival unit described in that level.
- Linking of descriptions: Every archival unit must be linked to its parent level within the hierarchy and its level must be made explicit.
- Non-repetition of information: To avoid repetition, general information common to a group must be declared in the highest level possible. Sublevels must, in turn, contain common information applicable to its child levels.
Elements
ISAD(G) defines 26 data elements of description, 6 of which are mandatory, divided into 7 areas:
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Identity Statement (All elements in the Identity Statement area are mandatory.)
- Reference Codes: Elements used to unequivocally identify the unit of description: country code, repository code, specific local reference code/control number/other unique identifier.
- Title: Name for the unit of description.
- Date: Dates of record creation during the conduction of affairs or dates of document creation.
- Level of Description: Level of the unit of description within the hierarchy.
- Extent and medium of the unit of description: Physical or logical extent and medium of the unit of description.
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Context (Of the 4 elements that make up the Context Area, only the first one is mandatory.)
- Name: Creator of the unit of description.
- Administrative / Biographical history: Biographical or Administrative details pertaining to the creators of the unit of description.
- Archival history: Relevant historical information on the unit of description.
- Immediate source of acquisition or transfer: Source of acquisition of the material.
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Content and Structure
- Scope and content: Summary of scope and content relevant to the level of description.
- Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information: Appraisal, destruction and scheduling actions taken on or planned for the unit of description.
- Accruals: Planned additions to the unit of description.
- System of Arrangement: To provide information on the internal structure, the order and/or the system of classification of the unit of description.
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Conditions of Access and Use
- Conditions governing access: Information on legal status that may affect access to the unit of description.
- Conditions governing reproduction: Conditions for the reproduction of the unit of description after creation.
- Language/scripts of material: Languages, scripts and symbol systems used in the unit of description.
- Physical characteristics and technical requirements: Relevant physical conditions, software and hardware requirements for the access and preservation of the unit of description.
- Finding aids: Finding aids applicable to the unit of description.
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Allied Materials
- Existence and location of originals: Information about the existence or destruction of the original unit of description.
- Existence and location of copies: Information about the existence and availability of copies of the unit of description.
- Related units of description: Information about units of description related by provenance or other associations with the unit of description.
- Publication note: Publications that are about or are based on the use, study, or analysis of the unit of description.
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Notes
- Note: Information that does not fit in any of the previous areas.