Metadata guidelines for accession records

Introduction


Basic information area


Information elementUsageGuidelinesCAAIS element
Title

Required

Supply an accession title that consists of the creator’s name(s) and the type of material.
The accession title may be an interim title and may be subject to revision during processing.
1.3 Accession title
Identifier

Required

Assign a unique accession identifier using a standardized system for generating numeric or alphanumeric codes. 1.2 Accession identifier
Accession date

Required

Record the date the accessioning took place. Add event statements to record additional date information.5.1 Event statement
Content description

Required

Record a summary that includes: functions and activities that resulted in the material’s generation, dates, the geographic area to which the material pertains, subject matter, arrangement, classification, and documentary forms. This is recorded as a free text statement.3.3 Scope and content
Condition descriptionOptional

Provide a description of the physical condition of the contents of the accession, including any special handling requirements.

Use preservation statements to provide information about material in the accession that is known to be at-risk of becoming inaccessible due to physical damage or degradation; that requires special equipment or technology to access its content; or that will require specific supplies or expertise to preserve.

4.3 Material assessment statement
DispositionOptionalDescribe how the contents of the accession have been assigned to different fonds or collections.1.4 Archival Unit
InventoryOptional

ProvenanceOptionalProvide provenance information about the accession, such as custodial history, detailed acquisition information, etc.
Retention ruleDo not useRetention rules are provided in the file classifications. 
General noteOptional

Acquisition type

Required


1.5 Acquisition method
Resource type

Required



Restrictions apply?


Publish?Do not useDo not use
Access restrictions?

Required

Check the box if there are any access restrictions for the contents of the accession. 
Access restrictions note

Required

If there are restrictions provide an explanatory note. 
Use restrictions?

Required

Check the box if there are any use restrictions for the contents of the accession. 
Use restrictions note

Required

If there are restrictions provide an explanatory note. 

Dates area


Accession records can include multiple date notes. The following guidelines apply to each date note.

Information elementUsageGuidelinesCAAIS element
Label

Required

Each accession record must contain a "creation" note with "bulk dates" of creation information in the expression field. Begin date and end date information should be provided whenever possible.

Select other date labels as necessary.

3.1 Date of material
Expression

Required

See RAD 1.4B5 for guidance on expressing probable and uncertain dates.3.1 Date of material
Type

Required

Select the type of date expression:

  • Bulk dates
  • Inclusive dates
  • Single date

Each accession record must contain a "creation" note with "bulk dates" of creation information in the expression field.

3.1 Date of material

BeginMandatory (certain dates)
3.1 Date of material

EndMandatory (certain dates)
3.1 Date of material
Certainty

If a probable or uncertain date is expressed in accordance with RAD 1.4B5, select the appropriate level of certainty from the drop-down menu:

  • Approximate
  • Inferred
  • Questionable
3.1 Date of material
EraDo not useDo not use
CalendarDo not useDo not use

Extents area


Accession records can include multiple extent notes. The following guidelines apply to each extent note.

Information elementUsageGuidelinesCAAIS element
Portion

Required



Number

Required



Type

Required



Container summary


Physical detailsConditionally required

Dimensions


Agent links area


Information elementUsageGuidelinesCAAIS element
Role

Required



Relator


Agents

Required



Related resources area


Information elementUsageGuidelinesCAAIS element
ResourcesDo not useDo not use1.5 Archival unit

Related accessions area


Information elementUsageGuidelinesCAAIS element
Relationship typeDo not use

Select "Part of" relationship if:

  • The accession forms one part of another accession, or
  • The accession has multiple parts described in other accession records

Select "Sibling" relationship if the accession is bound with other accessions that together form part of another accession

N/A
This accessionDo not use

If Relationship type is "Part of," the "This accession" field automatically includes two options:

  • This accession forms part of
  • This accession has part

If Relationship type is "Sibling," the "This accession" field automatically changes to "Is Sibling of"

N/A
AccessionDo not useType to search available recordsN/A
Relator typeDo not use

If Relationship type is "Part of," the relator type automatically changes to "Part" relationship

If Relationship type is "Sibling," the relator type automatically changes to "Bound With" relationship

N/A

Subjects area


Information elementUsageGuidelinesCAAIS element
SubjectsDo not useDo not useN/A

External documents area


Information elementUsageGuidelinesCAAIS element
TitleNot yet determined

Provide a reference for documentation related to the material in the accession, when applicable. This reference may specify a physical location for this documentation or it may consist of a link to an electronic file.

Record the title of the associated documentation. This may be assigned by the originator of the documentation or by the repository.

4.5 Associated documentation
LocationNot yet determinedRecord the location of the file, ideally a resolvable URI.4.5 Associated documentation
Publish?Do not useDo not use. If this box is checked, the reference to the external document is published to public (patron) interfaces.4.5 Associated documentation

Rights statement area


Information elementUsageGuidelinesCAAIS element
Rights Type

4.2.1 Rights Type

Instances area


Information elementUsageGuidelinesCAAIS element
Type


Top container
Type to search available records...N/A
Child typeNot yet determined
N/A
Child indicatorNot yet determined
N/A
Grandchild typeNot yet determined
N/A
Grandchild indicatorNot yet determined
N/A

New "Top Containers" must be created for each accession record

Information elementUsageGuidelinesCAAIS element
Container profile


Container type


Indicator


BarcodeDo not useDo not useN/A
ILS Holding IDDo not useDo not useN/A
ILS Item IDDo not useDo not useN/A
Exported to ILS?Do not useDo not useN/A
Locations
Status


Start date


End date


Note


Location


Deaccessions area


Information elementUsageGuidelinesCAAIS element
Portion


Description


Reason


Disposition


Notification given?


Deaccession date
Deaccession date label


Deaccession date expression


Deaccession date type


Deaccession date certainty


Deaccession date era


Deaccession date calendar


Deaccession extents
Portion


Number


Type


Container summary


Physical detailsq


Dimensions


Collection management area


Information elementUsageGuidelinesCAAIS element
Processing priorityDo not useDo not use
Rights determined?Do not useDo not use
Processing planDo not useDo not use
ProcessorsDo not useDo not use
Processing hrs/unit estimateDo not useDo not use
Processing total extentDo not useDo not use
Extent typeDo not useDo not use
Total processing hoursDo not useDo not use
Funding sourceDo not useDo not use
Processing statusDo not useDo not use

Classifications area


Information elementUsageGuidelinesCAAIS element
Classifications

Required for University Records

Do not use for private donations

Select the appropriate DalClass classification(s) from the drop-down list.1.6 Disposition Authority

User defined fields area


Note: the User defined fields include information about monetary appraisals and legacy identifiers (e.g., old accession numbers, ULM identifiers).

Information elementUsageGuidelinesCAAIS element
Boolean 2Conditionally required

Date 1Conditionally required

If the accession received a monetary appraisal, record the date of the monetary appraisal report.


String 1Conditionally requiredIf the accession received a monetary appraisal, record the name of the monetary appraiser.
String 2Conditionally requiredIf the accession received a monetary appraisal, record the value of the monetary appraisal.
Accessioned by
(String 3)

Required

Record the name of the Archives staff member responsible for the creation or revision of the accession record.7.3.3. Action agent
Text 1Do not useElement includes legacy accession numbers. Data was transcribed from paper accession records into the Archivists' Toolkit database in 2011 and then migrated into ArchivesSpace in 2018.1.3 Other identifier
Text 2Do not useElement includes legacy identifiers originally published in union list of manuscripts in Canadian repositories (ULM). Data was transcribed from paper accession records into the Archivists' Toolkit database in 2011 and then migrated into ArchivesSpace in 2018.1.3 Other identifier
Text 3 OptionalRecord monetary appraisal notes, as necessary. 4.4.3 Appraisal statement note