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Records in Context (RiC)

"Records in Context" (RiC) is a data model and ontology developed by the "Records in Context" expert group of the International Council on Archives (ICA). RiC has been designed as a new standard for describing archival context and aims to enhance the representation, exchange, and connection of archival information.

RiC Entities​

Records in Context identifies a total of 22 entities, which represent the main objects of interest for archivists that manage records retained for long-term preservation and access. These entities are those required to provide the context that serves physical management, preservation, discovery, use, and understanding of the records over the course of their history.

Of these 22 entities, four are at the very heart of an archive, as they describe the records and the contexts within which they emerge and are used over time.

Core entities of the RiC model

Some of these entities are created when needed, such as a Record resource, which is added once its corresponding archival document is captured by archivist.

Controlled vocabularies​

Other entities, in particular places, agents and concepts, are typically pre-defined in controlled vocabularies, then linked with other entities. Such controlled vocabularies may be available locally or publicly.

As RiC uses standardised web technologies extensively, both public controlled vocabularies and public archival datasets form the cornerstone for building semantically rich and meaningful networks of linked, archival data. These networks may then be navigated, explored and processed by humans and machines alike.