VRA Projects- VRA Core 3.0

The VRA Core 3.0 is a work in progress
Although the basic categories are set as prescribed in this document, the Data Standards Committee will continue to develop the VRA Core 3.0 in the following areas:

mapping to CDWA, MARC and other metadata standards.
further guidance on recommendations for the use of controlled vocabularies.
additions to the Compendium of Examples.

We welcome your comments and suggestions. Please contact Elisa Lanzi (elanzi@smith.edu) or Ann Whiteside (abw6n@virginia.edu)

Category attributes
In this document, each category is displayed with the following attributes:
Qualifiers = indicates existence of qualifiers and label
Definition = a narrative statement that defines the concept of the category.
Data Values = recommendations for use of controlled vocabularies or standardized lists.
VRA Core 2.0 = mapping to VRA Core Categories 2.0
CDWA = mapping to the Categories for the Description of Works of Art
Dublin Core = mapping to Dublin Core Metadata Element Set, Version 1.1
Comment = questions and comments for discussion

Standards Recommended
AACR
AAT
CDWA
LCSH
LCTGM
TGN
ULAN

Projects > VRA Core 3.0 > VRA Core Categories

VRA Core 3.0

Introduction | VRA Core Categories, Version 3.0 | Compendium of Examples | MARC Mapping

VRA CORE CATEGORIES, Version 3.0

Record Type | Type | Title | Measurements | Material | Technique | Creator | Date | Location | ID Number | Style/Period | Culture | Subject | Relation | Description | Source | Rights

Record Type
Qualifiers: None
Definition: Identifies the record as being either a WORK record, for the physical or created object, or an IMAGE record, for the visual surrogates of such objects.
Data Values (controlled):work, image
VRA Core 2.0: None
CDWA: None
Dublin Core: TYPE

Type
Qualifiers: None
Definition: Identifies the specific type of Work or Image being described in the record.
Data Values (controlled): recommend AAT
VRA Core 2.0: W1 Work Type; V1 Visual Document Type
CDWA: Object/Work - Type; Related Visual Documentation-Image Type
Dublin Core: TYPE

Title
Qualifiers:

Title.Variant
Title.Translation
Title.Series
Title.Larger Entity

Definition: The title or identifying phrase given to a Work or an Image. For complex works or series the title may refer to a discrete unit within the larger entity (a print from a series, a panel from a fresco cycle, a building within a temple complex) or may identify only the larger entity itself. A record for a part of a larger unit should include both the title for the part and the title for the larger entity. For an Image record this category describes the specific view of the depicted Work.
Data Values: formulated according to data content rules for titles of works of art
VRA Core 2.0: W2 Title; V7 Visual Document View Description
CDWA: Titles or Names-Text; Related Visual Documentation-View; Related Visual Documentation-View- Indexing Terms
Dublin Core:TITLE

Measurements
Qualifiers:

Measurements.Dimensions
Measurements.Format
Measurements.Resolution

Description:The size, shape, scale, dimensions, format, or storage configuration of the Work or Image. Dimensions may include such measurements as volume, weight, area or running time. The unit used in the measurement must be specified.
Data Values: formulated according to standards for data content (e.g., AACR, etc.)
VRA Core 2.0: W3 Measurements; V2 Visual Document Format; V3 Visual Document Measurements
CDWA: Measurements-Dimensions; Measurements-Shape; Measurements-Format; Related Visual Documentation-Image Measurements
Dublin Core: FORMAT

Material
Qualifiers:

Material.Medium
Material.Support

Description: The substance of which a work or an image is composed.
Data Values (controlled): AAT
VRA Core 2.0: W4 Material
CDWA: Materials and Techniques-Materials-Name,Materials and Techniques-Materials-Role
Dublin Core: FORMAT

Technique
Qualifiers: None
Description: The production or manufacturing processes, techniques, and methods incorporated in the fabrication or alteration of the work or image.
Data Values (controlled): AAT
VRA Core 2.0: W5 Technique
CDWA: Materials and Techniques-Processes or Techniques- Name
Dublin Core: FORMAT

Creator
Qualifiers

Creator.Role
Creator.Attribution
Creator.Personal name
Creator.Corporate name

Description: The names, appellations, or other identifiers assigned to an individual, group, corporate body, or other entity that has contributed to the design, creation, production, manufacture, or alteration of the work or image.
Data Values (controlled): recommend ULAN and AAAF (LC authority files).
Comment: Controlled list for role (e.g., artist, engraver, architect, etc.) and attribution (e.g., school of, workshop of, circle of, style of, follower of, attributed to, etc.) in development.
VRA Core 2.0: W6 Creator; W7 Role
CDWA: Creation-Creator-Identity-Names, Creation-Creator-Identity-Qualifier, Creation-Creator-Identity-Roles
Dublin Core: CREATOR, CONTRIBUTOR

Date
Qualifiers:

Date.Creation
Date.Design
Date.Beginning
Date.Completion
Date.Alteration
Date.Restoration

Description: Date or range of dates associated with the creation, design, production, presentation, performance, construction, or alteration, etc. of the work or image.Dates may be expressed as free text or numerical.
Data Values: formulated according to standards for data content (e.g., AACR, DC dates, etc.)
VRA Core 2.0: W8 Date; V4 Visual Document Date
CDWA: Creation-Date
Dublin Core: DATE, COVERAGE

Location
Qualifiers:

Location.Current Site
Location.Former Site
Location.Creation Site
Location.Discovery Site
Location.Current Repository
Location.Former Repository

Description: The geographic location and/or name of the repository, building, or site-specific work or other entity whose boundaries include the Work or Image.
Data Values (controlled): BHA index, AAAF (LC), Grove's Dictionary of Art Location Appendix
VRA Core 2.0: W9 Repository Name; W10 Repository Place;V5 Visual Document Owner
CDWA: Current Location-Repository Name, Current Location-Geographic Location, Context-Architectural-Building/Site, Context-Architectural-Building/Site-Place, Context-Archaeological-Excavation Place; Related Visual Documentation-Image Ownership-Owner's Name
Dublin Core: CONTRIBUTOR, COVERAGE

ID Number
Qualifiers:

ID Number.Current Repository
ID Number.Former Repository
ID Number.Current Accession
ID Number.Former Accession

Description: The unique identifiers assigned to a Work or an Image.
Data Values:
VRA Core 2.0: W11 Repository Number; V6 Visual Document Owner Number
CDWA: Current Location-Repository Numbers; Related Visual Documentation-Image Ownership-Owner's Number
Dublin Core: IDENTIFIER

Style/Period
Qualifiers:

Style/Period.Style
Style/Period.Period
Style/Period.Group
Style/Period.School
Style/Period.Dynasty
Style/Period.Movement

Description: A defined style, historical period, group, school, dynasty, movement, etc. whose characteristics are represented in the Work or Image.
Data Values (controlled): recommend AAT
VRA Core 2.0: W14 Style/Period/Group/Movement
CDWA: Styles/Periods/Groups/Movements-Indexing Terms
Dublin Core: COVERAGE, SUBJECT

Culture
Qualifiers: None
Description: The name of the culture, people (ethnonym), or adjectival form of a country name from which a Work or Image originates or with which the Work or Image has been associated.
Data Values:recommend AAT, LCSH
VRA Core 2.0: W15 Nationality/Culture
CDWA: Creation-Creator-Identity-Nationality/Culture/Race-Citizenship; Creation-Creator-Identity-Nationality/Culture/Race-Culture
Dublin Core: COVERAGE

Subject
Qualifiers: None
Description: Terms or phrases that describe, identify, or interpret the Work or Image and what it depicts or expresses.These may include proper names (e.g., people or events), geographic designations (places), generic terms describing the material world, or topics (e.g., iconography, concepts, themes, or issues).
Data Values: recommend AAT, TGM, ICONCLASS, Sears Subject Headings
VRA Core 2.0: W16 Subject; V8 Visual Document Subject
CDWA: Subject Matter-Description-Indexing Terms; Subject Matter-Identification-Indexing Terms; Subject Matter-Interpretation-Indexing Terms, Related Visual Documentation-View-Indexing Terms
Dublin Core: SUBJECT

Relation
Qualifiers:

Relation.Identity
Relation.Type

Description: Terms or phrases describing the identity of the related work and the relationship between the Work being cataloged and the related work. Note: If the relationship is essential (i.e. when the described work includes the referenced works, either physically or logically within a larger or smaller context), use the Title.Larger Entity element.
Data Values:
VRA Core 2.0: W17 Related Work; W18 Relationship Type
CDWA: Related Works-Relationship Type; Related Works-Identification
Dublin Core: RELATION

Description
Qualifiers: None
Description: A free-text note about the Work or Image, including comments, description, or interpretation, that gives additional information not recorded in other categories.
Data Values:
VRA Core 2.0: W19 Notes
CDWA: the "Remarks" section for various categories;Physical Description
Dublin Core: DESCRIPTION

Source
Qualifiers: None
Description: A reference to the source of the information recorded about the work or the image.For a work record, this may be a citation to the authority for the information provided. For an image, it can be used to provide information about the supplying Agency, Vendor or Individual; or,in the case of copy photography, a bibliographic citation or other description of the image source. In both cases, names, locations, and source identification numbers can be included.
Data Values:
VRA Core 2.0: V9 Source
CDWA: Related Visual Documentation-Image-Source-Name; Related Visual Documentation-Image-Source
Dublin Core: SOURCE

Rights
Qualifiers: None
Description: Information about rights management; may include copyright and other intellectual property statements required for use.
Data Values:
VRA Core 2.0: None
CDWA: Related Visual Documentation-Copyright Restrictions
Dublin Core: RIGHTS