3.0 TEXTUAL RECORDS, GENERAL RULES

3.0A. Preliminary rule

3.0A1. Scope

The rules in this chapter may be used to describe textual records that constitute a fonds or a part thereof as instructed in 1.0A1. Textual records are defined as written records, whether handwritten, typescript, published ¹, or generated by any other means, which are accessible to the naked eye without the aid of a machine.

For multiple media fonds, see chapter 2. For textual records in electronic form, see chapter 9. For textual records on microform, see chapter 10.

3.0A2. Multilevel description

For instructions on the use of multilevel description for preparing descriptions of a fonds and its parts, see 1.0A2.

3.0B. Sources of information

3.0B1. Chief source of information.

The chief sources of information for textual records are as follows ²:

1. for a fonds, all of the material in the fonds;
2. for a series, all of the material in the series;
3. for a file, all of the material in the file, including the file folder(s) or other container;
4. for an item, prefer in this order:
   1. information found on the title page, caption or colophon (if any of these exist);
   2. the item itself.

3.0B2. Prescribed source of information

The prescribed source(s) of information for each area of description of textual records is set out below. Enclose information taken from outside the prescribed source(s) in square brackets, unless otherwise instructed in specific rules.

3.0C. Punctuation

For the punctuation of the description as a whole, see 1.0C.
For the prescribed punctuation of elements, see the following rules.

3.0D. Levels of detail in the description

See 1.0D.

3.0E. Language and script of the description

See 1.0E.

3.0F. Inaccuracies

See 1.0F.

3.0G. Accents and other diacritical marks See 1.0G.