Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Society of American Archivists
Archivists have reason to celebrate the long-awaited publication of Describing Archives: A Content Standard. Devised and compiled initially by members of the American and Canadian archival community, this volume is intended to help archivists describe their collections at all levels, creating consistent points of access or index terms that will assist researchers in finding the materials they seek.
Describing Archives: A Content Standard, also referred to as DACS, replaces Steve Hensen’s 1989 second edition compilation, Archives, Personal Papers, and Manuscripts (APPM). Hensen’s work has long been the place for archivists to look for guidance at how to formulate their catalog record entries for creator names, titles, etc., since the Anglo-American Cataloging Rules, 2nd ed., rev. (AACR2) are so sketchy in this area. DACS builds on Hensen’s work and carries the concepts into the electronic environment within which most archivists currently work, including the Web, XML, and Encoded Archival Description (EAD). DACS not only addresses questions on how best to formulate a catalog record, but also describes the various levels within the finding aids for archival and manuscript collections. Moreover, DACS includes data elements from the two international archival conventions of the General International Standard Archival Description (ISAD(G)) and International Standard Archival Authority Record for Corporate Bodies, Persons, and Families (ISAAR(CPF)).
DACS is divided into three main parts: "Describing Archival Materials", "Describing Creators" and "Forms of Names". The data elements described within the chapters in each of the first two sections usually include a note of "Purpose and Scope", "Exclusions", "Sources of Information" and "General Rules". Best of all are the multiple examples illustrating the points. (The compilers point out that the examples given in Part 1 are meant to be illustrative and not prescriptive.) Even better, additional examples are also given for the first two parts showing the encoding necessary for both EAD and MARC 21, two widely used descriptive standards.
In addition to the three basic sections, there are a number of very useful chapters. One is a short introduction that may help archivists--especially those new to this area of work--to learn about basic archival principles. The compilers have also included a succinct overview about archival description. Four appendices include a glossary of terms, a bibliography of companion standards, and crosswalks. The crosswalks include tables showing the relationship between APPM to DACS, DACS to EAD and MARC, and DACS to the two international standards ISAD(G) and ISAAR(CPF). The final appendix includes examples of short finding aids, at all levels of description, fully encoded in EAD and MARC. The examples are drawn from an assortment of personal papers, family papers, organizational records and collections, helping to demonstrate more fully how the data elements may be utilized.
While it does not cover specific types of media already addressed by other library and archival standards, Describing Archives: A Content Standard meets many of the needs of the archival community. Congratulations are in order to the many thoughtful people who worked on this volume by incorporating their insights and combined knowledge into meeting the daily needs of today’s archivist. Highly recommended.
Published in 2004 by: Society of American Archivists, Chicago. (269 pages). ISBN 1-931666-08-3. $49.00 (SAA members $35.00)
Reviewed by:
Jacquelyn K. Sundstrand
Manuscript and Archives Librarian
Library Special Collections Department
University of Nevada, Reno
Last updated: March 31, 2005
http://www.olacinc.org/reviews/saa2.html
neumeist@buffalo.edu