LIBR 256-01
Archives and Manuscripts
Summer 2008 Greensheet
David de Lorenzo
E-mail
Phone: (510)643-3203
Office Hours:Telephone or In-person by Appointment
| Greensheet Links Textbooks and Readings Course Requirements |
Resources Blackboard Blackboard Tutorials SLIS eBookstore |
This class is taught completely in a classroom setting. However, to improve communication with each other and to share assignments and readings, an access code for the class Blackboard site will be distributed by email and in the first class.
Course Description
This course provides an introduction to the theory and practice of managing archives and manuscript collections. Both personal papers and institutional records (public and private) will be covered, as will a variety of record formats such as photographic materials and electronic records. Topics addressed will include collection acquisition and appraisal, arrangement and description, reference and public services, records management, archival management, and preservation, as well as ethical, social, and political issues impacting archival work. The class includes both theoretical and practical components and will consist of lectures, readings, discussions, and hands-on experience evaluating a manuscript collection.
Course Objectives
Student Learning Outcomes
At the completion of this course a student should be able to:
- understand appraisal theory and application
- understand current issues effecting the archives profession and appropriate professional preparation for the field of archives
- know how acquisition and accessioning processes are accomplished
- understand the issues relating to cataloging, arrangement, and description of archival collections
- know how to provide public services to archival collections and what the legal and policy issues are relating to such use.
- understand the complex issues surrounding electronic records management
- understand the challenges facing the archival manager
This course teaches students the major theories, important principles, and current practice in archival management and administration.
LIBR 256 supports the following SLIS Core Competencies:
- articulate the ethics, values and foundational principles of library and information professionals and their role in the promotion of intellectual freedom;
- compare the environments and organizational settings in which library and information professionals practice;
- recognize the social, cultural and economic dimensions of information use;
- use the basic concepts and principles related to the creation, evaluation, selection, acquisition, preservation and organization of specific items or collections of information;
- understand the system of standards and methods used to control and create information structures and apply basic principles involved in the organization and representation of knowledge.
In addition, this section supports the following SLIS Core Competencies:
- contribute to the cultural, economic, educational, and social well-being of our communities.
Textbooks and Readings
Required Text
The required textbook for this course can be acquired from the SLIS eBookstore:
- Hunter, Gregory S. Developing and Maintaining Practical Archives: A How-To-Do-It Manual. Second Edition. New York: Neal-Schuman Publishers, 2003.
I have placed additional readings on Blackboard that will be required for each class.
Course Requirements
Course Format & Blackboard
This class is taught completely in a classroom setting. However, to improve student communication with each other, an access code for the class Blackboard site will be distributed by email and in the first class.
All classes will occur at the Bancroft Library, 2121 Allston Way, Berkeley (for directions, see: http://bancroft.berkeley.edu/info/directions.html). In order to enhance communication with each other, I have also made available the Blackboard discussion module for your use. You will need a high-speed connection (DSL, cable, etc.) to successfully take this class. Please see: Technology Requirements and Instructions for Success. If you are not familiar with Blackboard, there are helpful tutorials at http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/blackboard/
Assignments
The assignments for this course are:
- Reference Resources Review, Due Friday June 20, 2008 (30 points)
Review & Analysis (6-8 pages) of the following reference sources:- National Union Catalog of Manuscript Collections (online) http://www.loc.gov/coll/nucmc/
- Chadwyck-Healey’s ArchivesUSA (must use at Berkeley library terminal) http://archives.chadwyck.com/
- Repositories of Primary Sources
http://www.uidaho.edu/special-collections/Other.Repositories.html - Archive Grid (must use at Berkeley library terminal) http://www.archivegrid.org/web/index.jsp
- Online Archives of California. http://bancroft.berkeley.edu/collections/findingaids.html
- Articles Review: Electronic Records (25 points)
DUE: July 11, 2008
I have assigned two articles for you to evaluate, analyze and criticize, which take opposite sides of a debate in the archives profession regarding control and access issues raised by electronic records. These articles are available in Blackboard. You will write one paper, 5-6 pages in length, that reviews the issues raised in the papers and identifies what are the strengths and weaknesses of each position. This is a formal paper; APA style, proper grammar, appropriate writing style and correct spelling are required and will be graded. You are strongly urged to use other readings and references to literature to enhance and support your evaluation. Please use proper APA styles for any references used. Please send the paper to me via email attachment in MS Word. - Processing Plan Report, Due Saturday, July 26, 2008 (35 points)
Students will spend time reviewing and analyzing a collection of original archival records from the unprocessed holdings of the Bancroft Library. The purpose of this "practicum" is to give students experience applying archival theory and method to the evaluation of a real collection of documents. At the conclusion of this work, students will be expected to submit a completed report citing the scope and content of the collection, an appraisal evaluation, identification of the series, suggested level of description for the finding aid, and evaluation of preservation issues. Detailed instructions for this assignment will be provided in class. - Class Participation (10 points)
Because this course is an intensive, compressed introduction to the subject, it is imperative that students attend every class session in its entirety. Missing class will result in zero points for class participation. Additional Reading have been placed on Blackboard and students will be required to come prepared to discuss the issues presented by those focus topics. Processing Plan meetings are also part of the class participation requirement.
Schedule
The schedule and specific assignments for this class are listed on Blackboard.
Grading
The assignments for this course will contribute to your final grade as follows:
| Reference Resources Paper | 30 points |
| Articles Review | 25 points |
| Class Participation | 10 points |
| Processing Plan Report | 35 points |
Late Assignments
Points equalling a full grade will be assessed against the student for late assignments for each day the assignment is late, unless there is mitigating circumstances that are communicated to the professor in a timely fashion.
Grading Scale
The standard SJSU SLIS Grading Scale is utilized for all SLIS courses:
| 97-100 | A |
| 94-96 | A- |
| 91-93 | B+ |
| 88-90 | B |
| 85-87 | B- |
| 82-84 | C+ |
| 79-81 | C |
| 76-78 | C- |
| 73-75 | D+ |
| 70-72 | D |
| 67-69 | D- |
| Below 67 | F |
In order to provide consistent guidelines for assessment for graduate level work in the School, these terms are applied to letter grades:
- C represents Adequate work; a grade of "C" counts for credit for the course;
- B represents Good work; a grade of "B" clearly meets the standards for graduate level work;
- A represents Exceptional work; a grade of "A" will be assigned for outstanding work only.
Students are advised that it is their responsibility to maintain a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0.
Academic Integrity
Your own commitment to learning, as evidenced by your enrollment at San José State University, and the University's Academic Integrity Policy requires you to be honest in all your academic course work. Faculty members are required to report all infractions to the Office of Student Conduct and Ethical Development. The policy on academic integrity can be found at http://sa.sjsu.edu/student_conduct.
Reasonable Accommodation of Disabilities
If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability,
please e-mail me as soon as possible. Presidential Directive 97-03 requires
that students with disabilities register with the Disability Resource Center
(DRC) to establish record of their disability.
No matter where students reside, they should contact the SJSU DRC to register. The DRC Web site: http://www.drc.sjsu.edu/
One Washington Square - San José, California USA, 95192-0029
Phone: 408-924-2490
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