Hi Michele,

Your software probably provides a dropdown for the container types to provide consistency, and perhaps to apply the linear and/or cubic measure. If you could add an associated field that is free format for the weird and have the software display it if Other/weird is selected from the dropdown.

We do this for customers using our Eloquent Archives software.

Regards,

Merv Richter
Eloquent Systems Inc.
Organizing data for eloquent presentation!
www.eloquent-systems.com
604-980-8358/101
800-663-8172/101
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-----Original Message-----
From: Encoded Archival Description List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Michele R Combs
Sent: May 19, 2008 6:16 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Weird containers

A question for the collective wisdom:  how do you encode material in

non-standard containers?  We have a set list of "accepted" terms for

primary <container> element (Box, Package, Oversize, Mapcase, etc) and

secondary (Folder, Drawer, Reel, etc).  Occasionally we have items that

are in something weird -- a metal box, for example, or a camera case, or

a canvas bag, or a tube, or...

Is it better to only use the <container> element for a consistent list

of standard container types, and put the oddities in the abstract or

other descriptive element?  Or should one use the <container> element

always, even for strange things?  I can see arguments for both

approaches and wondered what others have done.

Thanks

Michele

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Michele Combs

Manuscripts Librarian

Special Collections Research Center

E.S. Bird Library

Syracuse University

222 Waverly Ave.

Syracuse, NY  13244

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