Conservators and archival description

We're doing some thinking about how we do physical description of
archival records above the item level (fonds, series, file),
especially for "traditional" paper-based records.

Conservators routinely describe physical characteristics of records
as part of our documentation, and are familiar with the history and
technology of the physical forms found in archives.  I am interested
in knowing to what extent conservators in other institutions are
consulted for identification and description of physical
characteristics during the initial description process, and/or how
the information recorded by conservators as part of treatments and
condition surveys is incorporated in the archival descriptions used
by staff and researchers.

I am especially interested in hearing about the experience of
conservators who have participated in the development, testing
and/or implementation of data content standards for archival
description such as General International Standard Archival
Description (ISAD(G)), Rules for Archival Description (RAD), or even
local or institutional standards which include physical description.

Ala Rekrut
Chief, Preservation Services
Provincial Archives of Manitoba
200 Vaughan Street
Winnipeg MB  R3C 1T5
Canada
204-945-1265
Fax: 204-948-2008


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 16:1
                   Distributed: Friday, June 14, 2002
                        Message Id: cdl-16-1-013
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