Identifier (small archive)

[Funke, Rebecca S.]

Good morning,

I am a lone arranger working on a small college archive.  While I have an MLS, I don't have any formal training in archival work, though I've spent a good deal of time reading and watching videos.  

I'm trying to wrap my head around the use of an identifier for physical resources.  My questions are: 

1.  How do you track them since they are sequential?  That is, how do you know from day to day, which identifier is next in line to be used?  Do you use a spreadsheet?  I haven't found that Archivesspace offers this function, but maybe it does?
2. How did you settle on the format for the identifier?  I have a tenatitive scheme outlined but am curious how others are doing this.  I'm working in ArchivesSpace with a couple collections, and have used record groups numbers as a placeholder, until I decide how to move forward.    
3. In any way, do you place the identifier with the physical item?  Similar to a barcode for a book, but not attached.  

We have no manuscripts in our archives, which consists of college materials (e.g. minutes, publications, reports, photos, etc.).  Any insights you might be willing to share would be very much appreciated!!  

Rebecca 

Rebecca Funke

Archive Specialist, DMACC Library

Des Moines Area Community College

2006 S. Ankeny Blvd

Ankeny, IA 50023

rsf...@dmacc.edu