All,
Updating Access Terms
In order to support multi-part access terms, <controlaccess> elements (persname, corpname, famname, name, subject, geogname, function, occupation, and title) will now require one or more <part> elements. For example, it will now be possible to encode the equivalent of MARC subfields.
Support Multi-Language Finding Aids
In order to better support the encoding of finding aids containing multiple languages and scripts, we have added language code and script code attributes (@lang and @script) to all non-empty EAD elements. We are also in the midst of a review to make sure all appropriate elements can repeat to support multi-language description.
Align with XHTML
Where feasible, we have made modest changes to more closely align display elements with XHTML. Those changes include the following:
- Minor tweaks to <table>
- Minor tweaks to <list>
- Remove <blockquote>, <table>, and <chronlist> from within <p>
- Limit <blockquote> to a block element, add <quote> for inline use.
Fix <note> Craziness
There are 8 semantically distinct uses of <note> in EAD 2002. In order to bring some clarity to the situation, the <note> element itself has been replaced by context-appropriate note elements including <didnote> (in the <did>), <footnote> (in mixed content contexts), <controlnote> (in <notestmt>), and <descriptivenote> (in various structured elements - more on those later). We will also improve documentation of when to use the <odd> element as an alternative to <note>.
As always, questions and comments are greatly appreciated.
Best,
Mike Rush
TS-EAD co-chair