Definitions of eCommons types

academic document **
A resource, likely text, that fulfills an academic function, such as a course catalog or information regarding a specific course of study.

administrative record **
Records that relate to budget, personnel, supply, and similar facilities operations within an organization.Can include meeting minutes or similar.

archival record **
Catch-all for content digitized out of Cornell University Library archival collections.

article
A journal article is a self-contained nonfiction prose composition on a particular subject, written by one or more authors who conducted the research and for publication in an academic or scholarly journal, or other serial publication.

biography
A non-fiction account of the life of an individual.

book
A non-serial publication that is complete in one volume or a designated finite number of volumes. In physical form, a book is a collection of sheets of paper, parchment or other material bound together along one edge within covers. Books are often identified with an ISBN.

book chapter
A defined chapter or section of a book, usually with a separate title or number.

cartographic material
Graphic or photogrammetric representations of the Earth's surface or a part of it. May include physical features and political boundaries, where each point corresponds to a geographical or celestial position according to a definite scale or projection. May also refer to similar depictions of other planets, suns, other heavenly bodies, or areas of the heavens. 

case study
An in-depth examination of a single instance or event.

collective labor agreement **
Written labor agreement, generally between a union and an employer.

conference papers and proceedings
Published records of conferences, including abstracts, reports, and the papers presented.

correspondence
A written or printed communication of a personal or professional nature between individuals and/or representatives of corporate bodies.

dataset
A collection of related facts, often expressed in numerical form and encoded in a defined structure.

dissertation or thesis
A thesis or dissertation is a document submitted in support of candidature for an academic degree or professional qualification presenting the author's research and findings.

fact sheet
A fact sheet, factsheet or (in some industries) one-sheet is a presentation of data or information in a format which emphasizes key points concisely.

government record **
An item generated by a government, in this context generally by the U.S. Federal Government.

image
A visual representation other than text.

interview
Statements, transcripts, or recordings of conversations in which one person obtains information from another such as for research purposes, publication, or broadcast.

learning object
One or more content items, practice items, or assessment items that are combined based on a defined learning objective.

legal document **
Documents having legal relevance, in this context generally court records.

musical score
Musical notation is any system used to visually represent aurally perceived music through the use of written symbols, including ancient or modern musical symbols.

newsletter
Letters, reports, or other brief written communications that communicate news, particularly those written by societies or business organizations. Generally refers to serial publications containing news and information of interest to the general public or to a special group.

other
A category which may cover text, interactive, sound, or image-based resources not explicitly addressed in any concept in this vocabulary.

pamphlet
Independent publications consisting of a few leaves of printed matter folded or fastened together but not bound, often with no cover or a paper cover. 

periodical
A periodical is a serial publication with its own distinctive title, characterized by a variety of contents and contributors (e.g. articles, editorials, reviews, columns), and issued at regular intervals.

preprint
A draft of an article - before or after peer-review, and before formal publication in an academic journal or book.

presentation
Spoken or visual representations of information, such as speeches, demonstrations, posters, and slide shows.

report
A separately published record of research findings, research still in progress, or other technical findings, usually bearing a report number and sometimes a grant number assigned by a funding agency. Also, an official record of the activities of a committee or corporate entity, the proceedings of a government body, or an investigation by an agency, whether published or private, usually archived or submitted to a higher authority, voluntarily or under mandate. In a more general sense, any formal account of facts or information related to a specific event or phenomenon, sometimes given at regular intervals.

software
A computer program in source code (text) or compiled form.

sound
A resource primarily intended to be heard. Examples include a music playback file format, an audio compact disc, and recorded speech or sounds.

syllabus
An outline or brief statement of the main points of a lecture or course of study.

technical report
A document that describes the process, progress, or results of technical or scientific research or the state of a technical or scientific research problem. It might also include recommendations and conclusions of the research.

term paper
Papers or other documents presenting a student's research on a particular topic and submitted as a qualification of completing a semester or other term of school or college. For a dissertation or thesis, please use "dissertation or thesis".

video/moving image
A recording of visual images, usually in motion and with sound accompaniment, designed for playback via an electronic device.

website **
A group of World Wide Web pages usually associated with a particular subject and connected via hyperlinks, made available online by an institution, company, government, or other organization.

** these types can only be applied by eCommons administrators. If you believe your content is best described by a type marked '**' please contact an administrator.

Type definitions used or adapted from the following sources:
Library of Congress Resource Types Scheme: http://id.loc.gov/vocabulary/resourceTypes.html 
The Getty Vocabularies: http://vocab.getty.edu/