9.0 RECORDS IN ELECTRONIC FORM, GENERAL RULES

9.0A. Preliminary rule

9.0A1. Scope.

The rules in this chapter cover the description of digitally borne or digitized records that are encoded for manipulation by computer, consisting of data (e.g., text, images) and/or programs, and system documentation.¹ The rules in this chapter may be used to describe records in electronic form which constitute a fonds or a part thereof.

The rules, however, are not intended to apply to virtual records or electronic transmissions which do not result in a computer file residing in a permanent or semi-permanent addressable location. Nor are the rules intended to apply to firmware, such as programs residing in permanent memory in calculators or programmable toys.

Use these rules in conjunction with the chapter(s) dealing with the broad class(es) of material relating to the intellectual form of the unit being described. For multiple media fonds, see chapter 2.

9.0A2. Multilevel description

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

9.0B. Sources of information

9.0B1. Chief source of information.

The chief sources of information for records in electronic form 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, prefer in this order,
   1. sources internal to the file (e.g., title screen, main menu, internal label(s) or other identifying information);
   2. system documentation produced by the agency or person(s) responsible for creating, compiling, editing, or producing the records in electronic form in the file;
   3. other sources (including information on the physical carrier or its container, issued by the creator, publisher, distributor, etc.). Prefer any permanently affixed paper, plastic, etc., label that is added by the publisher, distributor, etc. of the file, as opposed to those added locally, and as opposed to the container itself, which may have data embossed or printed on it.
4. For an item, prefer in this order,
   1. sources internal to the item (e.g., title screen, main menu, internal label(s) or other identifying information);
   2. system documentation produced by the agency or person(s) responsible for creating, compiling, editing, or producing the records in electronic form in the item;
   3. other sources (including information on the physical carrier or its container, issued by the creator, publisher, distributor, etc.). Prefer any permanently affixed paper, plastic, etc., label that is added by the publisher, distributor, etc. of the item, as opposed to those added locally, and as opposed to the container itself, which may have data embossed or printed on it.

9.0B2. Prescribed sources of information.

The prescribed source(s) of information for each area of description of the record in electronic form is set out below. Enclose information taken from outside the prescribed source(s) in square brackets unless instructed to do otherwise in specific rules.

9.0C. Punctuation

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

9.0D. Levels of detail in the description

See 1.0D and the .0D rules in the relevant media chapters.

9.0E. Language and script of the descripton

See 1.0E.

9.0F. Inaccuracies

See 1.0F.

9.0G. Accents and other diacritical marks

See 1.0G.