Corporate Records Management Branch

2.1 Primary Number and Title

Each heading covering a functional or subject grouping of records is allocated a unique five-digit primary number and title within ARCS.  This primary is used to classify all information related to the relevant subject or function, regardless of its physical format.

2.2 Scope Note

The scope note describes the functions, uses and content of the records that are to be classified within a primary records classification.  A scope note indicates the administrative or operational function to which the records relate and outlines the activities and/or work processes leading to records creation.  It will also give a general statement about the record types (memos, forms, reports, etc.) and media (photographs, video recordings, etc.) covered, in a sentence or paragraph beginning "Includes" or "Record types include".  If this sentence or paragraph does not appear to be comprehensive, the information should appear in "includes" qualifiers under the relevant secondaries.

2.3 Cross References

Cross references link the primary to related primaries.  This information can be used to help determine whether records should be classified in a different place, and to ensure that related records can be viewed together.