RADical Surgery: A Case Study in Using RAD to Produce a Thematic Guide
Abstract
This article discusses using the Rules for Archival Description to produce an inter-institutional thematic guide on genealogical sources in Alberta's archives and research centres. The author raises issues encountered in using RAD on this project, such as the need to tailor RAD for genealogical researchers, applying RAD to unprocessed archival documents, dealing with differing institutional descriptive practices, and working within the limitations imposed by the guide's presentation format. The author goes on to discuss how the project team responded to the issues and makes comparisons with a similar project involving the use of RAD in the preparation of an inter-institutional union list in British Columbia.
RÉSUMÉ
Cet article examine l'utilisation des Règles de description des documents d'archives (RDDA) pour la production d'un guide thématique inter-institutionnel sur les sources généalogiques des centres d'archives et de recherche albertains. L'auteur soulève les problèmes rencontrés dans l'utilisation des RDDA: l'adaptation des RDDA aux besoins des généalogistes, l'application des RDDA aux documents archivistiques non traités, la négociation avec des pratiques descriptives institutionnelles distinctes et l'ajustement aux limites imposées par la présentation même du guide. L'auteur poursuit en examinant la manière dont l'équipe a solutionné ces différents points et compare les résultats avec un projet similaire d'utilisation des RDDA pour la préparation d'une liste syndicale inter-institutionnelle en Colombie-Britannique.
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