Leads archivists through the provisions of Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS) with the aim of assisting institutions in choosing between available options and creating documentation for local application. Includes extended examples of recording DACS content in EAD3, EAC-CPF, and MARC formats.

Provides an introduction to Encoded Archival Description Version EAD3, including its benefits and challenges, overall structure, and relationship to other archival standards. Discusses changes in the recent version and offers practical information on implementation.

Introduces the standard Encoded Archival Context—Corporate Bodies, Persons and Families (EAC-CPF) and situates it in the wider archival standards landscape.

Explores the potential of data created by archivists and, using approaches and tools for sharing structured data, how it can be shared with researchers in the digital humanities as well as how it can enhance archivists own discovery systems and strategies.

Putting Descriptive Standards to Work, edited by Kris Kiesling and Christopher J. Prom, is the most recent addition to SAA’s Trends in Archives Practice series. The book consists of four modules: Module 17: Implementing DACS: A Guide to the Archival Content Standard by Cory L. Nimer, lead archivists through the provisions of Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS); Module 18: Using EAD3, by Kelcy Shepherd, introduces Encoded Archival Description Version EAD3; Module 19: Introducing EAC-CPF by Katherine M. Wisser, introduces Encoded Archival Context–Corporate Bodies, Persons, and Families (EAC-CPF); and Module 20: Sharing Archival Metadata, by Aaron Rubinstein, explores strategies for sharing archival metadata with researchers in the digital humanities and other archivists.