Arrangement & Description

At Hesburgh Libraries, archival description for processed materials adheres to the minimum finding aid requirements below. For templates and processes used to build descriptions, see menu at left.

DACs/ArchivesSpace Required

  • Reference Code (Unique ID)
  • Name and Location of Repository
  • Title 
  • Date 
  • Extent (Cubic Feet)
  • Name of Creator(s) (If known)
  • Scope and Content
    Note: In a minimum description, this element may simply provide a short summary of the scope and content of the materials being described.
  • Conditions Governing Access 
  • Languages and Scripts of the Material 
  • Description Rules = (DACS)
  • Level of Description
  • Languages and Scripts of the Material (DACS2)

Local Required

  • Arrangement (Use “unarranged” as appropriate)
  • Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use (Copyright)
  • Preferred citation
  • Immediate Source of Acquisition (Suppressed and only if no known accession record exists. Unsuppressed if the donor requires acknowledgment.)
  • Container Summary: box/folder size(s), etc.
  • Access Points (LCSH, LCNA, AAT-Genre/Form, Local Terms, etc.)
  • Other finding aid note. Not published, indicate OCLC number for MARC version of record. Format: (OCoLC)123456789

Local Optional

  • Bio/Admin Note (Use when collections warrant independent biographical or historical context outside of the scope and content note)
  • Physical Access (Use where required, i.e. collections are offsite)
  • Technical Access (In support of access to mixed-media collections)
  • Processing Note
  • Bulk Dates
  • Related Materials