The FIAF Moving Image Cataloguing Manual

Both editions of the FIAF Moving Image Cataloguing Manual are the result of many years of labour and collaboration with numerous professionals in the moving image field. The 2016 first edition was more than a simple revision of The FIAF Cataloguing Rules for Film Archives (1991) as it contextualised cataloguing within the recent 2010 CEN standard. The text and content that was in V.01 remains fundamentally the same in V.02. However, the overall structure has been changed, incorporating examples and some text previously in Appendices within the body of relevant sections and having specific chapters on the Variant, Agents, and Events etc. Some sections have also been enhanced considerably, with additional illustrative diagrams reflecting data architectural options, to address areas such as digital items, restoration/preservation, production materials and series/serials cataloguing needs. Deviations and evolving interpretations and application of CEN 15907 since 2016 are also considered in areas of V.02.

Although it is specialized in focus, and draws from modern concepts and standards such as LRM (Library Reference Model) and its predecessor FRBR (Functional Requirements for Bibliographic Records), CEN (European Committee for Standardisation) EN 15907 and EN 15744, and RDA (Resource Description and Access), it is designed to be compatible with a variety of data structures. It provides charts, decision trees, examples, diagrams and other tools to help experts and non-experts alike in performing real-world cataloguing of moving image collections. There are also links to further in-depth relevant subject documents on the Cataloguing and Documentation Commission Resources section of the FIAF website.

If you have any questions or feedback, please contact cdc@fiafnet.org.

Happy cataloguing!

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The FIAF Moving Image Cataloguing Manual V.02

Written by Natasha Fairbairn, Maria Assunta Pimpinelli, Thelma Ross

Edited by Linda Tadic

Head of the Manual Task Force: Natasha Fairbairn

December 2026