Metadata guidelines for deaccession records
Introduction
Deaccession record metadata guidelines are derived from the Canadian Archival Accession Information Standard (May 2019 Final 1.0) and the tool tips provided in ArchivesSpace.
Deaccessioning is an “event” that is recorded in a deaccession record linked to an accession record.
If an entire fonds or collection is deaccessioned, this should also be noted in the “Processing status” field in the Master List of Archival Collections.
Basic information area
Information element | Usage | Guidelines | CAAIS element |
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Portion | Required | Specify whether the deaccession record relates to the whole or part of the associated accession. Options include:
In most cases, “Part” is the correct choice. Only use “Whole” when the deaccession record indicates that the Archives is deaccessioning the entire accession. |
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Description | Required | Provide a thorough description of the material that the Archives is deaccessioning. Recommended practice is to include information about the genre/form of material, date(s) of creation, subject matter, geographic scope, and other information typically provided in a Scope and Content note. |
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Reason | Required | Provide a reason for deaccessioning the material. Examples:
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Disposition | Required | Indicate what the Archives did with the deaccessioned material. If material is returned to the donor(s):
If material is transferred to another archival repository:
If material is destroyed by the Archives:
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Notification given? | Do not use | N/A | 5.1.1 Notification of a deaccession event could be described as a separate event. |
Deaccession dates
Note: In most cases, the deaccession date is a “single” date on which the deaccessioning took place.
Information element | Usage | Guidelines | CAAIS element |
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Label | Required | Use “Deaccession.” |
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Expression | Required | Provide a natural language expression specifying the date or date range of the deaccession. In most cases, the expression will be written, e.g.,: July 12, 2021 |
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Type | Required | Select the date type from the drop-down menu. Options include:
In most cases, the correct choice is “Single.” |
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Begin | Required | Record the deaccession date in YYYY-MM-DD format. |
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End | Conditionally required | This is required for Bulk Dates, Inclusive Dates, and Range. When the End Date is required, record it in YYYY-MM-DD format. |
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Certainty | Do not use | Do not use |
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Era | Do not use | Do not use |
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Calendar | Do not use | Do not use |
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Extents
Information element | Usage | Guidelines | CAAIS element |
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Portion | Required | Specify whether the extent statement relates to the whole or part of a given deaccession. |
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Number | Required | Provide a numeric value that indicates the number of units in the extent statement. This value is used in conjunction with the Extent Type to create a structured extent statement. |
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Type | Required | Select the term that best describes the type of units used to measure the extent of material described in the extent statement. This value is used in conjunction with the Extent Number to create a structured extent statement. |
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Container summary | Optional | Provide a list of container(s) housing the material described in the extent statement. Examples:
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Physical details | Conditionally required | Provide other physical details about the material described in the extent statement. Examples:
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Dimensions | Optional | Provide additional information about the dimensions of the material described in the extent statement. Recommended practice is to limit the use of this field and only use it to capture essential dimensions information that could not be recorded in other parts of the deaccession record. Examples:
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