Access point

Definition


The authorized form of name combined with other information elements that identify and describe the named entity and may also point to other related authority records.

Source: International Council on Archives. International Standard Archival Authority Record for Corporate Bodies, Persons, and Families (ISAAR-CPF), 2nd edition. 

Introduction


Access points are used to facilitate searching and browsing archival descriptions. The Rules for Archival Description defines access point as "a name, term, etc., by which a descriptive record may be searched and identified." 

Types of access points could include:

  • Subject headings
  • Geographic place headings
  • Genre/form headings
  • Authority records

Related terms


Provenance

Dalhousie Libraries documentation


See Section 4 of the University Archives Procedure Manual for instructions on how to create four types of access points in the Archives Catalogue: