Collectionsliste

Collectionsliste is a German term that literally translates to “collection list.” It does not denote a single, standardized concept; its meaning depends on the domain. Broadly, it refers to a compiled enumeration of items that belong to a collection, and it can function as an inventory, a catalog, or a navigational aid within a larger system.

In libraries, museums, and archives, a collectionsliste typically serves as an inventory of objects, documents, or holdings. Such lists often accompany metadata fields like title, creator, date, medium, provenance, accession or catalog numbers, and current location. They support retrieval, provenance research, curation, and collection management, and may be part of a larger cataloging framework or database.

In digital repositories and information systems, a collectionsliste can describe subcollections or a set of digital objects within a larger collection. It supports user navigation and programmatic access, for example through structured metadata, hyperlinks to individual records, and cross-references to related collections or items.

The term is less common as a fixed label in German than alternatives such as Sammlungsübersicht, Bestandsverzeichnis, or Katalog. When used, it often appears in bilingual or English-dominant contexts, or in software and data-management documentation where English terminology is retained.

Typical content of a collectionsliste includes a unique identifier, descriptive title, creator or source, date or period, scope or provenance, location, and access or rights information. Consistency in metadata and clear interlinking with related records enhance usefulness for researchers and curators. See also Katalog, Sammlungsübersicht, Bestandsverzeichnis.