I think it just comes down to whether you can imagine the data might ever be displayed/consumed in another format or order. In a world of linked data that would seem likely. In the marc world punctuation is used as a data delimiter, but elsewhere it's just noise. In terms of markup, generally, I think best practice is to omit punctuation unless you're in a narrative section (e.g, <bioghist>) and then to use it outside of embedded elements.

-Brian

On March 11, at 10:11 PM, Ashley Knox <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> This has probably been spoken about in the past, but now that so many EAD
> implementors are using data entry systems and not necessarily generating
> custom stylesheets, what might the consensus be on using end punctuation
> after controlled headings. Is there a strong reason to keep or get rid of
> it? I have heard arguments for both.
>
> As a digital collections department, we are stuck between a rock and a hard
> place in trying to standardize this. I'm seeing many digital/metadata heavy
> groups going away from the punctuation in metadata for digital objects
> (perhaps planning to allow for systems to control that still) and then EAD
> implementors creating finding aids with the punctuation. I surveyed a few
> institutions that came to mind. I mostly see the punctuation kept. However,
> with something like DPLA, there is no end punctuation. I'm creating
> metadata and finding aids for both areas, but describing the same material,
> as in, a finding aid of correspondence with punctuated controlled headings
> and then a digital collection of the same correspondence with DC metadata
> with non-punctuated headings.
>
> We plan to implement ArchivesSpace and we don't really know an automated
> way to switch back and forth between formatting choices like this
> conveniently, so it would be great to go with something and stick with it.
> Right now, in our AT, we use end punctuation. I guess what matters is that
> we CAN include the punctuation at our institution if we want to and
> export/share our EAD that can easily be altered through stylesheets if a
> system we shared with opted against them. I still have a hard time grasping
> using the same headings in two different places at our own institution and
> including punctuation in one and not the other--with no real strong reason
> of why on either--while at the same time having no qualms with the fact
> that our library catalog obviously uses it and is where the argument
> begins. If someone can show me some examples of what they do and why, or
> why we shouldn't care about a small formatting issue that could also span
> across other fields too, I would appreciate it greatly. MARC 245 also uses
> end punctuation, but EAD finding aid titles do not? Is this a parallel
> issue that would show why punctuation doesn't matter?
>
>
> DPLA - No Periods
> http://dp.la/item/4696d87c59b75357b801aa9090df6780?back_uri=http%3A%2F%2Fdp.la%2Fsearch%3Fq%3Dcar%26subject%255B%255D%3DBusiness%252C%2BEconomics%2Band%2BFinance%26utf8%3D%25E2%259C%2593
>
> These finding aid/EAC/EAD examples/best practices say do include/instruct
> to use periods
>
> LC:
> http://findingaids.loc.gov/db/search/xq/searchMfer02.xq?_id=loc.mss.eadmss.ms007005&_faSection=indexTerms&_faSubsection=controlaccess&_dmdid=d5384e7
>
>
>
> SNAC:
> http://socialarchive.iath.virginia.edu/xtf/search?sectionType=cpfdescription;f1-localDescription=College%20students;f2-localDescription=Greek%20letter%20societies
>
>
>
> OAC Practices - page 13:
> http://www.cdlib.org/services/access_publishing/dsc/tools/docs/EAD_Web_Templates.pdf
>
>
>
> Northwest Digital Archives Best Practice Guidelines
>
> Page 25 - their systems adds it in for them, so they don't put it in
> manually
>
> _____________________________________________________________
>
>
> DACS 2nd Edition says to follow AACR2 or RDA, but then the examples don't
> actually use any end punctuation.
>
> http://files.archivists.org/pubs/DACS2E-2013.pdf
>
>
> *PAGE 32*--General Rules
> 2.6.4 Record the name(s) of the creator(s) identified in the name element
> in the devised
> title of the materials using standardized vocabularies (e.g., Library of
> Congress
> Authorities) or with rules for formulating standardized names, such as
> those found in
> AACR2, ISAAR(CPF), or RDA.
> Hamilton, Alexander, 1757-1804
> Title: Alexander Hamilton papers
>
> Lyon, Phyllis
> Martin, Del
> Title: Phyllis Lyon and Del Martin papers
>
> Richardson, James Burchell
> Title: James Burchell Richardson family papers
>
> Schramm family
> Title: Schramm family papers
>
> Wharton, Edith, 1862-1937
> Fullerton, William Morton, b. 1865
> Title: Edith Wharton correspondence with Morton Fullerton
>
> Bollingen Foundation
> Title: Bollingen Foundation records
>
> United States. Bureau of Insular Affairs
> Title: United States Bureau of Insular Affairs records
>
> Irvine Company
> University of California (System). Regents.
> Title: Land agreements between the University of California
> and the Irvine Company
>
>
> *PAGE 87*
> Finally, the names of these entities must be rendered in a standardized
> form using
> standardized vocabularies (e.g., Library of Congress Authorities) or with
> rules for
> formulating standardized names such as those found in AACR2, ISAAR(CPF), or
> RDA to facilitate the retrieval of information across descriptions,
> systems, and
> institutions.
> _________________________________________________________________
>
> And FINALLY, EAD3 Gamma has an example on page 243 of a subject heading
> encoded and DOES include end punctuation.
> http://www2.archivists.org/sites/all/files/gammaEAD3TagLibrary.pdf
>
> __________________________________________________________
>
>
> *ArchivesSpace members (examples of current EAD examples):*
>
> http://www.archivesspace.org/General%20Members
>
> end punctuation
> http://www.library.gatech.edu/archives/finding-aids/search?browse-all=yes;expand=subject
>
> http://www.uic.edu/depts/lib/specialcoll/services/rjd/findingaids/AFSCf.html
>
> http://etext.ku.edu/view?docId=ksrlead/ksrl.kc.abrahamburld.xml;route=ksrlead;brand=ksrlead;query=
>
> http://www.nmu.edu/sites/DrupalArchives/files/UserFiles//MSS-016.html
>
> http://www2.lib.unc.edu/mss/inv/l/London_Family.html (nonmember)
>
>
> no end punctuation
> http://proust.library.miami.edu/findingaids/?p=subjects/subjects&char=W
>
> http://archon.brandeis.edu/index.php?p=collections/controlcard&id=77
>
> http://digital.library.pitt.edu/cgi-bin/f/findaid/findaid-idx?c=ascead&cc=ascead&rgn=main&view=text&didno=US-PPiU-ais198113
>
> https://www.library.unlv.edu/speccol/ead/1996-08_Duncan.xml
>
>
> Thanks,
>
>
> Ashley Knox
>
> Digital Projects Librarian
>
> University of South Carolina Libraries
>
> [log in to unmask]
>
> (803) 777-0735
>
> http://library.sc.edu/digital

--------------------------------------------------
Brian Sheppard
University of Wisconsin Digital Collections Center
[log in to unmask] (608) 262-3349