1.1 Purpose, scope, and use

1.1.1 Purpose

The primary purposes of the FIAF Manual are to suggest recommendations for the description and identification of moving images (with an emphasis on archival moving images), and to define the elements of description to facilitate the exchange of information.

1.1.2 Scope

The manual is designed for use by institutions with moving image collections and cataloguers of moving images as a guide in the preparation of cataloguing records or descriptive metadata. The recommendations apply to generalised film and television collections, and may require elaboration in more specialised institutions whose holdings are exclusively of a single format or type, e.g., commercials, newsfilm, television, unedited footage, etc. For example, those with television collections should additionally consider more specific standards such as EBUcore or PBcore,

Moving images include a range of materials upon which sequences of visual images have been recorded or registered and which create the illusion of movement when projected, broadcast, or played back (by means of a projector, television set, computer, software or equivalent devices). Such images may or may not be accompanied by sound. The definition includes moving images of all types, e.g., features, shorts, news footage, trailers, outtakes, screen tests, educational and training documentaries, experimental or independent productions, study films or video, home movies, unedited materials, television broadcasts, commercials, spot announcements, recorded performances of concerts, ballets, plays, and CCTV footage etc. It encompasses both live action and animation and includes all analogue and digital formats.

While many moving image archives also have audio materials in their collections, this manual does not offer detailed guidance for describing audio media. However, the Manual does provide ways to describe physical and technical characteristics of analogue and digital audio Items to assist with collection and preservation management.

1.1.3 Use

Instead of defining levels of cataloguing, this manual outlines core elements for moving image description. The core elements provide the basis for identification of a resource and for facilitating the exchange of data from one system to another. These are not “core” elements in the sense of a Dublin Core, EBUCore, or PBCore schema, but are rather intended to illustrate common elements that are used in describing moving images and are referenced in the rules outlined in this manual. The elements are largely drawn from EN 15744 and 15907. For a comparison of elements described in this Manual and EN 15907, please see Elements of Description comparison.

This manual also provides a list of all the data elements associated with the entities described. Thus, this approach provides a framework for the minimum and maximum amount of descriptive information allowed in a range of moving image cataloguing activities existing in a large variety of environments.

Institutions are encouraged to include as many of the non-core elements as goals and circumstances permit. None are considered mandatory by these guidelines, but an institution may require that some are mandatory for internal purposes.