Polish Road to Standardization of Archival Description Central Archives of Historical Records, Warsaw Central Archives of Historical Records, Warsaw 25 th April 2003 Hubert Wajs

Starting point my archives are unique. Exhibition ( during the brake ) Records are unique, description - not

HISTORY I Polish form (1948) –9 fields inventory ISAD(G) –Translation I (1995)

Polish form v. ISAD(G) Polish formISAD(G) analogous #Name 1.Reference codes (repository in short) Reference codes (fonds ~ creator) [ ] 3.Reference codes (unique identificator) Title / Scope and content Language / Dates Extent and medium Physical characteristics Reference codes (former unique identificator) Note Access points ISAAR

From 26 ISAD(G) elements essential are 6: ISAD(G)Polish form a.Reference code b.Title c.Creator [+] d.Dates e.Extent f.Level of description [+]

FORM (model 1948)

1. AGAD 2. Metryka Koronna 3. MK Księga wpisów za kanclerstwa Jana Koniecpolskiego. Łac. 5. [1299]; VII X; 1455 V6. Księga, 142, k. Oprawa: skóra (XIX w.), zniszczona, karty księgi postrzępione, poklejone 7. N 8. niepublikowana 9.

Introduction of ISAD(G) ISAD(G) –Translation I (1995) –Translation II (ongoings 2003) From paper forms to electronic databases: –CDS/ISIS ( ) –DBASE III+ & IV ( ) –FOX & FOXPRO ( ) –MS Access (1997 –XML (2003

ISAD(G) elements in Introductions to the finding aids. Name of creator Administrative / Biographical history Archival history Immediate source of acquisition Accruals System of arrangement Conditions governing access3.4.1 Related units of descriptions Publication note Rules or Conventions3.7.2.

HISTORY II Polish seminary on metadata ( ) Peter Horsman – EAD - MAGIC WORD OR TERROR ? ( )Peter Horsman – EAD - MAGIC WORD OR TERROR ? ( ) Polish seminary on EAD ( ) International seminary on EAD ( ) RLG Best Practice Guidelines for EAD (ongoings 2003)

EAD structure

EAD Down from component –Where: or –Examples:

1/1 Zbiór listów z XVI i XVII w. List Stanisława Karnkowskiego, biskupa kujawskiego do króla [Stefana Batorego], polecający mu zaufanego człowieka Gauloviusa i zawiadamiający, iż tenże osobiście zda królowi bardziej dokładną relację z różnych spraw V 24 Oryg.; bifolium pap. s. 1-2 Odcisk pieczątki sygnetowej przez papier na s. 2; podpis nadawcy.

Are we (here in Poland) ready for EAD ? Intellectually: –in general terms YES {if YES then HOW? end if}

HOW? EAD (in XML) INTRODUCTION (*.TXT; *. DOC) DESCRIPTION OF SINGLE UNIT (*.DBF) INVENTORY

Are we (here in Poland) ready for EAD ? Intellectually: In general In particular Human factor Technically: –Software