ACA Arrangement and Description — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the principle of original order in archival arrangement?
- Reordering files chronologically
- Alphabetically arranging records
- Maintaining the creator’s arrangement of records (Correct answer)
- Organizing by size and color
Correct answer: Maintaining the creator’s arrangement of records
Original order preserves the internal structure and context in which records were created, aiding researchers in understanding their use.
Question 2: Which standard is most commonly used for describing archival materials in the United States?
- MARC
- RDA
- DACS (Correct answer)
- ISBD
Correct answer: DACS
Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS) is the primary U.S. standard for describing archival content.
Question 3: What is a finding aid in archival description?
- A preservation manual
- A metadata schema
- A guide to the content and structure of a collection (Correct answer)
- A bibliographic citation
Correct answer: A guide to the content and structure of a collection
A finding aid is a tool that helps users discover the contents, structure, and context of a collection.
Question 4: Which element is typically included in an archival finding aid?
- Page numbers
- Scope and content note (Correct answer)
- Document font types
- Microfilm reels
Correct answer: Scope and content note
Scope and content notes provide users with a summary of a collection's subjects, functions, and significance.
Question 5: What is the purpose of hierarchical description in archival work?
- To describe only the digital copies
- To focus only on individual items
- To provide context from collection to item level (Correct answer)
- To alphabetize materials
Correct answer: To provide context from collection to item level
Hierarchical description starts with general information (like the collection level) and narrows down to specific items.
Question 6: Which level of archival description provides the broadest overview?
- Item level
- File level
- Series level
- Collection level (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Collection level
The collection level offers a general summary of the entire body of records and is the top of the descriptive hierarchy.
ACA Arrangement and Description
What is the principle of original order in archival arrangement?