LIBR 284
Seminar in Archives and Records Management
Spring 2003

Instructor: Lori Lindberg
Office: Module E 126-3
Phone: 408-924-2490
E-mail: lori@idealrealms.com
Class is on Blackboard

GREENSHEET

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

This class will cover in-depth Encoded Archival Description (EAD), the evolving standard for the presentation of archival information on the World Wide Web. At the completion of this class students should be able to:

• Explain the origins of SGML/XML and the concept of a Document Type Definition (DTD).
• Understand the concept of text markup and how it enables text to be viewed on the Internet with the use of a browser, along with basic client-server concepts.
• Explain the history of EAD, its development, and significance for the archival community.
• Identify the structure of the EAD DTD, its tag composition and other elements, and how those elements relate to the individual components of an archival finding aid.
• Identify tools developed to aid in the encoding process.
• Identify consortia and individual institutions that have utilized EAD to markup and post their finding aids online.
• Markup a simple finding aid for viewing on the Internet.

This class supports these objectives of the San Jose State University School of Library and Information Science:

• Teaching students the major theories, important principles, and current practice in:
  1. Information management, including the selection, organization, storage, retrieval, dissemination and utilization of information resources.
  2. The application of diverse technologies to information management.
  3. One or more specialized aspects of information management.
• Giving students the opportunity to take elective courses, practicums, and independent studies that prepare them to contribute to the work of the library and information professions.

COURSE TEXTS:

Required:
Dooley, Jackie (ed.). Encoded Archival Description: Context, Theory and Case Studies. Chicago: Society of American Archivists, 1998.

Optional:
Encoded Archival Description: Tag Library (Version 2002). Chicago: Society of American Archivists, 2002. Also available online at http://www.loc.gov/ead/tglib/index.html
Encoded Archival Description: Application Guidelines (Version 1.0). Chicago: Society of American Archivists, 1999. Also available online at http://www.loc.gov/ead/ag/aghome.html

Note: These books are NOT available in the SJSU bookstore, but must be ordered directly from SAA. SAA offers a discount of 10% if you order all three books. You may order them yourself. However, if you are not a member you will not be able to take advantage of the additional member discount.

Additional note: The current version of EAD has been updated and changed, with the new DTD now in Version 2002. Documentation has been slower in production. The Tag Library for Version 2002 has been published both in hardcopy and online, with an errata list available. We will be working with Version 2002 for the semester. Most of the Application Guidelines material for Version 1.0 will still be applicable.

ASSIGNMENTS AND GRADING:

Four quizzes @ 12.5 points each: 50 points

Two encoding assignments @15 points each: 30 points

Final encoding project: 20 points

This class follows the University recommended grading scale for graduate students.

Every assignment and quiz will involve surfing to specific sites on the Web and the creation, uploading, and downloading of files from/to our class site on Blackboard. Please make sure you have a user account set up on Blackboard before the first class meeting.

CLASS CALENDAR:

1/24, 1/25: 10:00 to 5:00 Face-to-face meetings in Fullerton for South students

1/31, 2/1: 10:00 to 5:00 Face-to-face meetings in San Jose for North students

Please plan on a full day each of the two days we will be meeting in person, and be prepared to take copious notes. We will take an hour lunch and have two short breaks during class time.

We will discuss the rest of the schedule, quizzes, and assignments on the first day of class. You will have considerable time to complete all class assignments and requirements well in advance of the final deadline.