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8. Details of Individual Metadata Elements
8.49 Type
Attributes
Attribute
Value
Identifying Attributes
Name
type
Label
Record Type
Defined by
Dublin Core Metadata Element Set, v1.1
http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/
Element URI
http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/type
Definitional Attributes
DC Definition
The nature or genre of the content of the resource.
DC Comment
Type includes terms describing general categories, functions, genres, or aggregation levels for content. Recommended best practice is to select a value from a controlled vocabulary (for example, the DCMI Type Vocabulary [DCMITYPE]). To describe the physical or digital manifestation of the resource, use the Format element.
Purpose
To provide additional information about the purpose of the record.
To assist users in interpreting information contained in the record by identifying its internal structure.
Rationale
"In order to define the content of the record or any aggregation, its logical and physical structure and its technical attributes, and in order to document the relationships that records may have between each other, metadata about the record should … d) document record form…" ISO Technical Specification 23081-1, s. 9.2.1
Value Domain
Enumerated strings of text representing record types.
Datatype Name
String
Constraint
Applicable at record level only.
Obligation
Optional at record level.
Relational Attributes
Encoding Scheme
Government of Canada Type Scheme (gctype)
AND/OR
Institution-specific scheme
Linkages
Retention Period
Conditions of Application - Record
Format
Text, based on encoding scheme.
Modifiable
Pre Record Declared Locked
Post Record Declared Locked
Yes
No
Occurrence
Repeatable
Conditions of Application - File
Format
-
Modifiable
-
Occurrence
-
Comments and Guidance
a) Explanation of Definition/Usage
This element is used to provide further context of the record. It is used to describe the purpose or function of the record.
This element is not to be confused with the element Subject which uses an enumerated value to describe the content (or "aboutness") of the record or the element Data Format which specifies the logical format of the data that comprises the record.
b) Best Practices
Examples of record types may include: manual, memo, briefing note, agreement, contract, etc. The list of available record types must be enumerated, with the Government of Canada Type Scheme (gctype) as the starting point for the list. Institutions may apply to add missing terms to the gctype scheme. However, in cases where gctype does not meet the needs of the institution, an institution-specific scheme may be created.
Further guidance on controlled vocabularies may be found in the following document: Controlled Vocabularies Sub-Group, Government On-Line Metadata Working Group, Guide to the Development and Maintenance of Controlled Vocabularies in the Government of Canada, July 8, 2005. [url forthcoming].
Once a record is locked, the value for this element may not be changed; nothing would precipitate such a requirement.
c) Obligation
This element is deemed optional because it is primarily descriptive in nature and does not assist in the management of the record through the information management life cycle.
d) Default Values/Auto-populate
If a user works primarily with records of a particular type, a default value may be applied but this situation will occur rarely.
e) Linkages
This element is linked to Retention Period because the type of record can have a direct affect on how long a record is kept. For example, a contract will have specific retention requirements.
f) Examples
- "contractual material"
- "memorandum"
- "policy"
- "report"
