| CODE | LIS2112 | |||||||||
| TITLE | Introduction to Archival Description | |||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 02 - Years 2, 3 in Modular Undergraduate Course | |||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 5 | |||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 4 | |||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Library Information and Archive Sciences | |||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | The study-unit provides an introduction to the basic aspects of archival description and emphasises the importance of archival description as the core building block of the archival profession. The study-unit focuses on the basic intellectual and physical principles for arranging and describing archives; archival description both as a preservation tool and also as a tool facilitating access to the public. An overview of best practices within the digital environment is also discussed. Study-unit Aims: The unit aims to make students aware of the various underlying concepts involved in the process of archival description. It covers the various aspects from the accessions of records to the accessibility to the general public. It also delves into general issues and challenges of the archival description process. Ethical and date protection issues that have a bearing on the process are also discussed. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Recognise and distinguish various typologies and levels of archival description; - Identify and determine the different components and phases of the process; - Acquire the concept of standardization involved; - Recognise and apply the processes of automation and identify digital tools that can facilitate archival description processes. 2.Skills By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Analyse and critically assess different typologies of traditional and digital finding aids; - Evaluate and select the best standards to be used in compiling different archival descriptions; - Carry out minor sorting and listing exercises; - Compare and search in local and foreign archival databases. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: - Cook, M. and Procter, M. Manual of Archival Description, 3rd. ed. (2000); - Duranti, L. (1992). Origin and Development of the Concept of Archival Description. Archivaria, 35, 47-54. Retrieved from https://archivaria.ca/index.php/archivaria/article/view/11884; - Meissner, D. (2019). Arranging and Describing Archives and Manuscripts. Online Sources: - Archives Portal Europe. Retrieved from https://www.archivesportaleurope.net/home - ICA (2000). The International Standard on Archival Description (ISAD(G), 2nd ed. Retrieved from https://www.ica.org/en/isadg-general-international-standard-archival-description-second-edition - ICA (2004). The International Standard Archival Authority Record for Corporate Bodies, Persons and Families, 2nd. ed. Retrieved from https://www.ica.org/en/isaar-cpf-international-standard-archival-authority-record-corporate-bodies-persons-and-families-2nd - National Archives of Malta AtoM. Retrieved from https://nationalarchives.gov.mt/en/Pages/AtoM.aspx |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture and Practicum | |||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Charles Farrugia |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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