The catalog provides capability for both search and browse of the Bank Group Archives’ holdings and supporting metadata. The data comprises several layers or content levels and a multitude of inter-relationships.  While the Bank Group Archives has made every effort to simplify the catalog for external users, the search mechanisms provided here may have limitations that are not immediately apparent.  Please note this database does not contain any archival records, only descriptions of the mostly paper-based archival material.

These search tips are intended to make searches easier and faster with a reasonable degree of certainty in the results. However, the data comprising this database was originally created for internal use only by the staff managing the Bank's records, and thus some of the data and terminology may seem unclear to external users. While the data is not entirely complete, the Bank Group Archives is currently in the process of revamping its archival description in an effort to comply with the General International Standard for Archival Description (ISAD(G)).  As the improved description progresses, new finding aids will be published on the Archives website.
 
A Good Way to Begin

Browse is the recommended entry point for new users. The top level browse presents 31 fonds covering persistent World Bank business functions, and points to record series responsible for these functions. From the record series description, the user can navigate to descriptions of the subordinate files descriptions, or the originating organizational unit which created the series
 
Understanding the Data

The data describes several layers or levels records and their creators, comprising five Content Levels:

Record Series
A series can be described as a group of records (having the same provenance or creator) that were created in a particular order or sequence or were kept together because they documented the same function or activity. A brief description of each record series in the database provides details of functions or activities documented by a given series. Record series usually comprise aggregations of files, although in a few cases they may be aggregations of particular documents (such as reports, or minutes). Each series citation contains one or many links to related the files or documents.  Search for specific series by selecting "Series" from the Content Level picklist and entering terms in the Keyword field. Series search is also recommended as a way to refine a search in order to reduce the quantity of hit results.

Files
A file comprises all the correspondence and other documents (relating to a particular project, activity, or transaction) received or created by a particular organizational unit.  File size varies from small (for example, comprising a single folder containing only a few papers),  to voluminous (for example, a project file often comprises many folders, with individual folders  arranged chronologically or separated by project phase).  Individual or grouped folders are designated at the Item level.

Items
Each Item record represents a subcomponent for a File record folder list.  One or many Items records may belong to a single File, and an Item record may include one or many file folders.   Common abbreviations include "C" for "correspondence"; "6v" for 6 folder volumes; and "AR" for audit reports)

Oral Histories
Covers catalog entries for oral history transcripts.  For more information see the World Bank Group Oral History Program.

Organizational Units
The Bank is a large and complex organization, and its dynamic organizational structure is reflected in the data about organizational units. We have tried to maintain the hierarchical links between superior and subordinate units, and the temporal links between predecessor and successor units, so that you can trace responsibility for particular functions or activities over time, and thus find the records documenting those functions or activities.  Selecting Content Level “Org Unit” will only return results for an organization unit record.  To locate an originating unit responsible for a series or file, select the appropriate Content Level and enter the unit name or acronym in the Keywords field.

Searching Specific Fields

Key Words
Enter a word or a phrase that you think you appear in the title or name of the entity you are searching for. Note: the search mechanism defaults to 'all words,' and includes options for 'exact phrase' and 'any word' searching.  You can use an asterisk ( * ) as a wild card at the end of your search expression; for example, "presiden*" will find "president", "presidents", "presidency".

Dates
Select the date in year/month/day format (YYYY/MM/DD).  Dates are often broadly defined, and while the search engine will allow precise date searching, your search will likely be more successful by avoiding narrowly defined date parameters

Project Name
Enter a word or a phrase  from the name of a Bank project in the Project Name field.  You may identify project related records by using the Project ID ((format POnnnnn), but a Project ID search will only work when the code is entered into the Keyword field, and not the Project Name. File level records related to a project contain a URL reference the project database citation.  For a complete listing of World Bank Group projects, please consult Projects and Programs.

Region/Country
Select a country or region from the picklist. Select multiple countries by holding the Ctrl key.  Note: This field will only yield positive results when searching Files, Items or Reports. To search for a series related to a specific region/country, select "Series" under Content Level and enter the region/country name in the Key Words field.
 
Sector
Select a sector from the picklist. Select one or multiple sectors by holding the Ctrl key.  This field can be used only for searching Items and/or Reports. To search for a series related to a specific sector, select "Series" under Content Level and enter sector words in the Key Words field.

Reports
Covers the Archives’ collection of bank reports.  Select "Reports" from the Content Level picklist.  For a complete listing of reports and publications disclosed to the public, including full text access in PDF format, please consult Documents and Reports.  A complete listing of reports and publications both previously disclosed and eligible for review under the World Bank Disclosure of Information Policy is available from the World Bank Catalog.

Loan Number
Select "Loan Number" from the Numbers picklist and enter a Loan Number. (Loans are an IBRD product.) Loan Numbers are always 4 characters in length; insert leading 0s if necessary (e.g. Loan 1 should be expressed as "0001").
 
Credit Number
Select "Credit Number" from the Numbers picklist and enter a Credit Number. (Credits are an IDA product.) Credit Numbers are always 4 characters in length; insert leading 0s if necessary (e.g. Credit 1 should be expressed as "0001").

Accession/Box Number
Each physical container belongs to a unique accession/box number combination.  Entering the Accession No. or Accession No./Box No. combination allows search by collocation in identifying records within close physical proximity.  An Accession/Box search will provide all Items located within the specified physical container(s).

General search tips

• Entering term(s) in Keyword with no other fields entered will search an index of all terms in the database.
• Country, sector, loan, and credit data is derived from project metadata at File and Item levels, Therefore, any search against Content Levels "Series," "Reports," "Oral History," and "Org Unit" will always yield zero results if region/country, sector, loan or credit is selected.  To search for region/country or sector related series, indicate Content Level “Series” and enter the region/country or sector names in the Keyword field.
• Each search defaults to all Content Levels between 1946 and the present unless otherwise indicated.
• In order to view a manageable number of relevant descriptions, we recommend refining your search by either expanding or restricting your search qualifiers depending on the quantify of results.