Archival and Manuscript Description Committee (AMDECO)

Reports To: Special Collections Steering Committee

Committee Charge: The Archival and Manuscript Description Committee (AMDECO) coordinates Yale Library descriptive metadata policies for archival and manuscript collections and single manuscripts. The Committee develops and documents policies and best practices; coordinates staff training; monitors and implements emerging standards; advises the Special Collections Steering Committee (SCSC) on the impact of metadata practice on user communities; and coordinates with other committees with shared interests. The Committee jointly reports to SCSC and the Metadata Strategy & Policy Steering Committee (MS&PSC). The Committee’s SCSC reporting line focuses on systems supporting common user experience, while the Committee’s MS&PSC reporting line focuses on issues of Yale-wide consistency in descriptive metadata and shared standards. AMDECO and the Yale Archival Management Systems Committee serve in a co-advisory relationship with one another.

Frequency of Meetings: Monthly or as needed.

Member Selection Method: Selected by the chair, with approval of SCSC. Members are archivists and librarians representing YUL special collections repositories, who are responsible for creating archival and manuscript descriptive metadata, developing descriptive metadata policies for their repository, serving to develop national standards for description, and/or providing reference services to special collections readers. Committee members should include one or two representatives from Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library; one or two representatives from Manuscripts and Archives; and representatives from at least three other repositories.

Term of Service: 2 years, renewable

Documentation: Manuscript Cataloging Guidelines