Patrick,
I agree with your assessment of the <unitloc> element. I think the
cumbersome, complicated system of attributes needed to differentiate uses
of the same element is a symptom of trying to make one descriptive element
do far too much work.
Daniel
At 04:18 PM 7/16/97 -0400, Patrick Lawlor wrote:
>The use of the <unitloc> tag for containers such as boxes is somewhat
>confusing and slightly unwieldy.
>
>In the description of this element it is stated that it is used for two
>separate and distinct purposes: "to identify the location of the material
>by the number assigned to the containers, boxes, folders, etc., in which
>it is arranged; and to identify the physical location of the material by
>the number of the stack, shelf, or other location where the material is
>stored."
>
>To avoid confusion, I think it would be of use to clearly define the
>distinction between physical location of a collection and how the
>collection is stored.
>
><UNITLOC> should only be used to indicate where a collection or
>item is physically located.
>
>A new tag such as <CONTAINER> with attributed/labels such a "Box,"
>"Folder," etc. would be used to indicate in what manner the material is
>physically stored.
>
>Such a tag system would eliminate the need to apply multiple attributes to
>the <UNITLOC> tag.
>
>I will not even attempt to delve into the philosophical aspects of what a
>box or folder is within a processed collection and its associated finding
>aid.
>
>Also, it would be useful in the Tag Library to indicate clearly when an
>element is a "floating" element or Phrase-Level Element. I know it is
>clearly described in the frontmatter of the Tag Library, but I would like
>to see it in the actual description of the Tag.
>
>
>Patrick T. Lawlor
>Rare Book and Manuscript Library
>Columbia University
>
>
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