This working group focused on descriptive models as they are currently used in relation to photographic collections. The problem to be addressed was that different descriptive methods are used and digitization projects now make new demands on descriptions for which no standard solutions are available. Workpackage 5 looked at the practice of descriptions and formulated recommendations to help those in charge of photographic collections to deal with descriptions in the new environment. To help focus the discussions, WP5 distinguishes between (a) descriptive models (fields and their definition), (b) software applications for making descriptions, and (c) (internet) solutions for searching, to be discussed at different stages.

The aims of the working group were:

• to provide an overview of currently used models, their pros and cons related to making a collection searchable locally or on the Internet and examples of existing applications
• to analyse existing models in order to formulate basic requirements for photographic descriptions, ideally resulting in a 'consensus model'
• to review internet solutions available
• to make recommendations about best practices, for either choosing a descriptive model or using an existing one for internet applications
• to develop a software tool for description of photographs, using the consensus model and preferably building on to existing applications

Stockholm City Museum (workpackage leader),
European Commission on Preservation and Access (project manager), Finnish Museum of Photography,
National Library of Spain,
Norwegian Museum Authority (Department for Historical Photography), Netherlands Institute for Scientific Information Services,
National Photographic Restoration Studios,
British Library, Public Record Office

2000-2003

SEPIADES. Recommendations for cataloguing photographic collections
Aasbø, K., Ortega García, I., Isomursu, A., Johansson, T., Klijn, E., Klijn, E.(ed),

The final report of the SEPIADES working group contains a detailed overview of the SEPIADES model, a set of elements to catalogue photo collections.

Main features of this model are:
- multi-level description
- listing of highly recommended core elements
- many pre-selected lists and references to relevant resources
- detailed suggestions for technical identification and condition assessment
- over 400 commented elements
- recommended use of Dublin Core for photographic collections
- overview of relevant literature

2003, 248 pp. 90-6984-397-8 € 35,00

Download this publication in PDF (4 MB) or order a hard copy.

SEPIADES. Cataloguing photographic collections (ECPA-report; 16)
Edwin Klijn, Yola de Lusenet

This ECPA report provides an accessible introduction to cataloguing photo collections. It summarizes research performed in the framework of SEPIADES, outlining the motives and ideas behind the SEPIADES model.

2004, 48 pp. ISBN 90-6984-417-6 Euros 16,00

Download this publication in PDF (1336 KB) or order a hard copy

Simultaneously to this advisory report, in close cooperation with the working group, a software tool has been developed by the Netherlands Institute for Scientific Information Services (NIWI). This tool implements the model as it is formulated in the SEPIADES report. Some basic functionalities of this tool are:
- custom control over data and user interface by cataloguer, allowing pick-and-choose selection
- multi-level description, allowing users to create their own hierarchy
- storage of records in human-readable XML format
- export function to Dublin Core according to recommended Dublin Core mapping in the advisory report
- search-and-retrieval function
- implementation of the Open Archives Initiative Protocol for Metadata Harvesting (OAI-PMH), enabling users to share their data with others with minimal effort
- programmed in Open Source Java, allowing flexible integration with existing descriptive software packages

Go to the download page

-Report on the first SEPIA expert meeting on descriptive models (Stockholm 26th/27th of April 2001)

On the 26th and 27th of April the first SEPIA expert meeting on descriptive models and current applications was held. Different experts on description of photographic materials gathered in Stockholm to share their experiences, through good times and bad times..

-Deliverable 5.1: descriptive models for photographic materials (working document in PDF, 1600 KB) or html version (abridged version of PDF file)

This working document contains an analysis of how the four most frequently mentioned, international descriptive models (ISAD, ISBD, MARC, AACR2) in the 1999 SEPIA survey, are used in relation to photographic collections.

Furthermore analyses of other descriptive models are included: FOTIOS (a Dutch model designed exclusively for photographic materials), SKOPEO (a model used for the European Visual Archives project), the Dataelementkatalogen (Swedish Fotosekratariat and National Archive of Sweden) and the Feltkatalogen (a Norwegian model to describe collections of cultural-historical material, art objects, books and photographs).

Each model will be introduced in brief, the elements of description will be summarised and a case study will be presented, to illustrate how it works in practice.

-Report on the second SEPIA expert meeting on descriptive models (Madrid, 29-30 November 2001)

The second SEPIA expert meeting on descriptive models was held at the Biblioteca Nacional in Madrid. In a two-day meeting a number of experts from Spain, the United Kingdom, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Finland and Portugal gathered to discuss cataloguing and description issues.

Edwin Klijn, Project Manager on Descriptive Models,
phone ++31-20 551 08 47, email: edwin.klijn@bureau.knaw.nl