When cataloguing an item in the collection, begin by entering the title. Then proceed to the 'Owners' field and specify that the item is part of the collection at the National Film and Sound Archive.

Below the 'Owners' field, you will encounter 4 key fields:

• Medium
• Sub-medium
• Form
• Genre.

Ensure that each field is completed carefully to provide an accurate and comprehensive description of the item.

Proper categorisation helps maintain consistency and provides valuable information for future reference and analysis.

Medium

This field categorises the work based on its primary presentation mode.

Choose either a Moving Image or Audio, depending on whether the item is primarily visual or auditory in nature.

Sub-medium

This field enables a more precise classification within the medium category.

Examples include Television, Film, or Sound Recording (published or unpublished).

Select the most suitable sub-medium based on the content of the work.

Form

In this field, provide a detailed description of the item's format or type.

This could include categories such as Feature Film, Documentary, Music, Home Movie, Newsreel, or others that best describe the content.

Genre

This category is primarily used for Feature Films and Music.

You can select one or more genres that best describe the content, such as Rock, Punk, Drama, or Comedy. This helps contextualise the work within cultural and artistic frameworks.

References

Meyer, P., & Allen, R. (2020). Cataloguing and classification standards for audiovisual materials: Best practices in archival institutions. Journal of Archival Studies, 22(2), 59–74.

Garvie, C. (2021). The Evolution of Media Classification Systems in Cultural Institutions. International Journal of Museum Studies, 45(3), 221–234.

National Film and Sound Archive (NFSA). (2022). Guidelines for film and sound cataloguing: A comprehensive approach. Canberra: National Film and Sound Archive.