This section discusses similarities and differences between RAD2 and RAD.

Based on principles similar to RAD, but drawing from archival rather than bibliographic descriptive models, RAD2 is backwards compatible. This means that RAD-compliant descriptions are automatically RAD2-compliant. RAD2, like ISAD(G), is organized by elements and the types of descriptive content that they contain, but with media-specific rules provided at the element level. The elimination of media chapters reduces the bulk and redundancy of the standard. Commentaries, and specific rules for describing collections and discrete items, provide guidance and clarification throughout the standard. An emphasis on the use of separate authority records supports greater flexibility in representing provenance. The adoption of RAD2, an ISAD- and ISAAR-compliant standard, would bring Canadian archival theory and practice in line with the international community, facilitating further international interchange, cooperation, and data-sharing.

2.1 Principles

RAD2 and RAD are based on common underlying principles. These include the following:

  • Archival description is based on the principle of respect des fonds
  • Description reflects arrangement
  • Levels of description correspond to levels of arrangement
  • Description occurs after arrangement is complete
  • Description proceeds from the general to the specific
  • Arrangement is hierarchical
  • Relationships between levels of description must be indicated clearly
  • It is possible to describe materials in any form or medium, created by any creator
  • Creators, in addition to archival material, must be described

2.2 Structure and Scope

RAD, like AACR2, the library community’s descriptive standard, is based on ISBD(G), the General International Standard Bibliographic Description.

RAD2 is based on ISAD(G), the General International Standard Archival Description. ISAD(G) presents twenty-six elements that may be combined to produce an archival description. The rules support consistent description of archival materials, based on traditional archival principles, and apply to records in all media. Output formats for archival descriptions are not prescribed.

In RAD2, as with RAD, Part I contains rules for describing archival materials, while Part II includes rules for describing the creators of archival materials.

Each RAD2 chapter contains the rules for a particular element of description, or set of related elements. Media-specific rules are included in the chapter for the element(s) to which they pertain. Commentaries are provided to explain or clarify certain rules.

RAD2 is broken down into the following large areas:

Part I

  • Identity
  • Content and Structure
  • Conditions of Access and Use
  • Acquisition and Appraisal
  • Related Materials
  • Specialized Elements
  • Notes
  • Description Control

Part II

  • Choice of Access Points
  • Administrative/Biographical History
  • Relationships
  • Form of Access Points (Corporate Bodies, Persons, and Families)
  • Authority Record Control

RAD2 does not include rules on objects or philatelic records. RAD chapters focusing on objects and philatelic records were only recently completed, and were not included in the original discussions that produced RAD2. Rules for these classes of material can be incorporated into RAD2 in the future.

RAD2 applies to archival materials at all levels of description and in any form or medium, as well as to collections and discrete items.

Specific changes at the element level are discussed in Appendix A. Examples of RAD and RAD2 compliant descriptions may be found in Appendix B.

2.3 A Permissive Standard

With its basis on ISAD(G) structure and the elimination of the general material designation element, RAD2 is less bibliocentric than its predecessor.

RAD2 asserts that the use of International Standard Bibliographic Description punctuation is optional, and that it is up to the repository how descriptions are presented to the end-user. For optional use, a list of prescribed punctuation is included as an appendix.

Either the fonds or the series can serve as the highest level of description in RAD2. This accommodates varied perspectives on theory and practice held by different repositories.

Some RAD2 rules apply specifically to collections or discrete items. RAD2 accepts that fonds, collections and discrete items may each be important holdings of archival repositories.

RAD directs archivists to the chief source or other prescribed source of information, whereas most RAD2 rules accept information from “any reliable source.” Specific instructions for title, date(s), edition, and publisher’s series elements are provided in an appendix to RAD2.

RAD2 provides rules for recording a number of different types of dates pertinent to the unit being described. The range of date types is wider than that accepted in RAD.

RAD2 includes subject in scope and content at all levels of description, including the fonds level. In RAD, subject is included in scope and content only at the series level and below.

Definitions of hierarchical levels of description found in RAD2 are also more permissive. RAD2 avoids associating a descriptive unit with a specific level of description.

In RAD2, a file is no longer defined as “usually part of a series”. It is understood that the materials in a file might be grouped by the creator, or may have been grouped through the process of archival arrangement.

The RAD2 definition of item as the “smallest intellectual archival unit” is simpler than the RAD definition, which specifies that an item is an entity “within a fonds”.

The use of abbreviations is optional, and institutions may choose to apply all, some, or none of the rules in Appendix B: Abbreviations.

2.4 Relationships

RAD2 identifies relationships between entities, archival materials, and non-archival materials. As in RAD, reference types include “see,” “see also,” and explanatory references. However, name-title references are not treated specifically in RAD2. If a work is associated with a name other than the authorized heading for a particular entity, the relationship between the work and the authorized heading can be identified through reciprocal references between the description and authority record.

The relationship elements enable archivists to identify:

  • Authorized headings for both creating and non-creating entities associated with archival materials
  • Other authorized headings related to creating entities
  • Relationships between archival materials and both creating and non-creating entities
  • Materials not housed in the repository that provide information about creating entities

2.5 Access, Use, and Administration

Both RAD and RAD2 allow information about the creator (biographical sketch/administrative history) to be included in the archival description, or maintained in a separate authority record. RAD2, however, encourages the creation of separate authority records. In addition, RAD2 provides the option of establishing authority files for non-provenance name access points.

Information on access and use of archival materials, receiving only cursory treatment in the Notes section of RAD, is represented with entire chapters (Chapters 6 and 8) and individual elements in RAD2.

RAD2 supports the creation of administrative metadata along with other descriptive information about a fonds or series. A chapter in each of the two parts of RAD2 provides rules for administrative metadata about archival descriptions and archival authority records.

Updated:

Comments