Which archives?
Archive Bank includes data from private archives: these are archives of individuals, families or private-law associations, bodies, companies or institutions. Thus, for now no archives of public institutions are being registered.
The "archive" concept is broadly understood. Archive Bank collects not only information about the known "paper" archives, but also about photo, film or poster collections, architecture and artist´s archives, oral testimonies, electronic files, etc. Mixed collections (e.g. archive and documentation) are included and globally described.
All private archives kept in Flanders and Brussels are included, as well as archives kept abroad which are related to Flanders or Brussels. There is no chronological limitation.
What information?
For the description of the archives Archive Bank uses an international standard, the ISAD(G) (General International Standard for Archival Description). There are 26 fields provided to furnish information on repository, title, archive creator, content, accesses, consultability, etc., but only five fields are obligatory. In other words, Archive Bank offers the possibility to save only basic information about archives, but can also include more extensive descriptions on the file level. The system also offers the possibility to create online links to other search systems.
A project under construction
Archive Bank is a project with a long-term perspective. At the beginning of 2008 the database has around 5,500 archive descriptions, of which around 4,000 are consultable in the public catalogue. For the further expansion of this partial overview Archive Bank is counting on the continuous contributions of partners in the heritage field. New descriptions are being added each day. Consult the database regularly for the most recent status.
Use of the data
For use of the data of Archive Bank Flanders, the following specified
Creative Commons licence applies:
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/be/deed.nl.
For the full licence text, see:
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/be/legalcode.nl.
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