Reference code

reference value ~ see: informational value

refile, v.~ To return an item to its original storage location after use.

reformat, v.~ 1. To create a copy with a format or structure different from the origi- nal, especially for preservation or access. – 2. To migrate information from one carrier to another.

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  Notes: In principle, an item can be reformatted without any effect on its con- tent. For example, a nitrate negative can be reformatted by making a duplicate on safety film. However, Marshall McLuhan’s observation that “The medium is the message” is a reminder that physical characteristics influence meaning. In the case
  

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  of a reformatted photograph, some information embedded in the material nature of the original will be lost in the reproduction. For example, a modern copy print of a 19th-century cabinet print will almost certainly use a different process, may not be the same size, and may not reproduce the back; the process, size, and date, which can help date the original, are missing from the reformatted copy.
  
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  Data files may be reformatted so that they can be read by different programs or to counter technological obsolescence. For example, a document created in Word 5 must be reformatted before it can be read by Word XP or by any version of WordPerfect. Or, home movies may be reformatted to DVDs. Such reformatting may be imperfect, with a resulting loss of meaning.
  
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  register, n.~ 1. A record containing entries in the form of a list. – 2. A volume record- ing names or events. – 3. Computing · Hardware used to store a fixed amount of data, often a word, a byte, or a bit.
  
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  registration, n.~ 1. The process of formally enrolling with an official body for certain rights or privileges. – 2. The process of entering information in a register. – 3. Museums · The process of entering information about museum holdings into a recordkeeping system. – 4. Printing, Photography · The process of aligning of several images, especially color separations, to form a single image.
  
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  Notes: Examples of registration¹ include registering a copyright, an automo- bile license, and land title. When approved, such information is typically entered into a public record, although that record is not always in the form of a register. Archives commonly ask patrons to complete a registration form containing their name and an agreement to follow policies and procedures.
  

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