Our local usage manual codifies guidelines and conventions for descriptive practice as used in ArchivesSpace for NYU Libraries’ three special collections repositories. It is a living document that will change as we refine our programs and usage of the system.
This manual underscores the relationship between system functionality and usage choices, focusing on the latter. For example, ArchivesSpace as a system has rather lean requirements for fields that comprise a valid record; however, our local content standards defining a complete record are far more robust. Particular fields are present for specific purposes within the system, but we may elect to not use them based on our needs. The examples in this documentation are not exhaustive, and should be used in conjunction with information on the Related Resources page. Please visit our Archival Collections Management guide for other manuals, forms, templates, and documentation we use to accession, arrange, and describe archival collections for NYU Special Collections.
