Dear colleagues,
Descriptive Notes is pleased to share a new post from out Section Updates series, an introduction and welcome to the RiC Wikibase Sandbox by its creator Regine Heberlein. You can find the blogpost here: https://saadescription.wordpress.com/2025/12/08/learn-ric-by-doing-introducing-the-ric-wikibase-sandbox/
In "Learn RiC by Doing: Introducing the RiC Wikibase Sandbox," Regine discusses Records in Context (RiC), the international description for archival description per the International Council on Archives as of 2023, and her pragmatic approach to developing a Wikibase tool for archivists (particularly in the United States) to explore it. This post developed from a community working session hosted by the Description Section, during which Regine provided an opportunity for collaboration and exploration of RiC through the Wikibase implementation she has created, and welcomes everyone with interest to explore RiC's practical application. Included are a discussion of RiC itself, how to join, explore, and test out the Wikibase, and more. For those who'd like to start with the event, the recording is also linked to the post!
Descriptive Notes is soliciting posts for an upcoming series on AI and archival description. Are you using AI as a tool for archival description? If so, what specific work are you attempting/accomplishing with it? What have you found to be the benefits and challenges? If you've chosen not to use AI in your descriptive practice, what factors or concerns have influenced that decision, and what challenges or pressures are you encountering as a result? Descriptive Notes is looking for articles, case studies, and other posts related to the how, what, and why (or why not) of AI and description to share with our readership.
This series will build on one of the Description Section's most well-attended events, a panel on AI & Archival Description from April 15, 2025 (recording linked). We would love to continue the conversation started at that session and offer a space for a broad range of perspectives on this topic.
Posts may consider themes such as: the descriptive workflows or projects into which you've integrated generative AI, the challenges of implementing AI, guidelines or guardrails for using generative AI in description, how you've advocated for (or against) the use of AI in your descriptive practice … and more!
Submit your pitches to saadescription@gmail.com. You can read more on our submission guidelines here: https://saadescription.wordpress.com/guidelines/. We are also still interested in receiving submissions for any of our existing series, including Visual Materials Description, as well as any announcements or updates, conference dispatches, history and heritage month-related posts, as well as our longtime favorite finding aids pieces.
Best,
Betts Coup
Blog Editor, Descriptive Notes
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Betts Coup
Head of Archival Operations
Technical Services for Archives & Special Collections
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA
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