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Guidance for Donors, Dealers, and Archival Repositories

A Word on Terminology

1 Leave a comment on paragraph 1 0 The authors of Born Digital: Guidance for Donors, Dealers, and Archival Repositories fall into two general groups: archivists and special collections curators. We have tried to use terminology that will be clear to all segments of our intended audience, but there remains an unavoidable professional bias. Certain terms used throughout the report will mean different things to archivists, dealers, curators, and donors.

2 Leave a comment on paragraph 2 0 In some instances we have chosen to sacrifice accuracy for consistency. For example, throughout the report we use the term “donor” to refer to the person, family, organization, estate, or other entity that sells, gives, deposits, loans, or otherwise transfers born-digital materials to an archival repository. In reality, sometimes this person or entity will also be the creator of the digital records or will be selling the materials rather than donating them. As you read the following pages, we invite you to substitute whatever language is necessary to make the report’s recommendations relevant within your particular context.

3 Leave a comment on paragraph 3 0 Below are definitions for some of the terms used most frequently in the report. These and other definitions also have been incorporated into the main body of the report when necessary.

4 Leave a comment on paragraph 4 1 Acquisition. The process by which a repository assumes ownership or responsibility for a body of materials; or, a body of materials recently acquired by a repository.

5 Leave a comment on paragraph 5 0 Dealer. A person or company that sells rare books and manuscripts and brokers deals between donors and archival repositories.

6 Leave a comment on paragraph 6 0 Donor. A person, family, organization, estate, or other entity that sells, gives, deposits, loans, or otherwise transfers born-digital materials to an archival repository.

7 Leave a comment on paragraph 7 0 Repository. A place that acquires, houses, and/or makes available archival materials transferred from donors.

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Source: https://mcpress.media-commons.org/borndigital/a-word-on-terminology/