Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE LIA1201

 
TITLE Introduction to Archival Description

 
UM LEVEL 01 - Year 1 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 emphasizes 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 introduces them to 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:

- Explain the importance and various typologies of archival description;
- Define the different components of the process;
- Explain the standardisation concepts involved;
- Map the processes of automation that can facilitate archival description processes.

2. Skills
By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

- Analyse an archival description tool;
- Decide on the best standards to be used in compiling different archival descriptions;
- Carry out minor sorting and listing exercises;
- Use and search in local and foreign archival databases.

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings:

Main Text/s:

- 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.

Supplementary Texts:

- 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

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Lecture

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Assessment Due Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Assignment SEM2 Yes 50%
Oral Examination (1 Hour) SEM2 Yes 50%

 
LECTURER/S Samuel Azzopardi
Charles Farrugia
Zvetlana Pace Cassar
Valeria Vanesio

 

 
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 2024/5. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

https://www.um.edu.mt/course/studyunit