Scope and Content Element:
Basic Rules

 

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• The "scope" and "content" are two separate things, despite being found in the same element.

• At the fonds (and sous-fonds) level, the "scope" gives a thumbnail sketch of:
  • the function or activities that generated the records
  • the period of time and the geographical area to which they pertain.

• the "content" indicates the arrangement or organization of the unit being described and include a list of the units in the next lower level of description (ie., at the fonds level list the series, at the series level list the sub-series.)

• At the series (and sub-series) level, the scope should include:
  • information about the specific activities generating the records
  • the time period and geographical area involved
  • any administrative or documentary procedures that explain how the series came into being.

• The content should include information about the internal structure of the series including arrangement, classification scheme and documentary forms of the records.

Note: The scope and content must state the current level of description., eg., "Fonds consists of...," "Series comprises...," etc.

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