In Arranging and Describing Archives and Manuscripts, Dennis Meissner provides a solid foundation in the history, theory, and standards supporting arrangement and description. In addition, he clearly demonstrates the approaches, methods, and mechanics required to process archival collections.
Archival and manuscript repositories exist to preserve historical records and make them available for use. The subject of this manual is the internal operations that link these two goals. This manual covers generally accepted principles and techniques of archival accessioning and processing. - Introduction.
Whether an institution has a collections orientation or whether it is primarily responsible for managing institutional archives in conjunction with an organizational records management programme, those responsible for its archives and records management need specialist advice and practical guidance in the successful establishment and operation of an archival facility built on sound principles. This authoritative handbook, written by an archival professional with over 25 years' experience, offers just that. Addressing the contextual, strategic and operational issues associated with archives, the text covers everything the archivist needs to know: establishing principles, policies and procedures; managing day-to-day operations; caring for different types of archival materials; enhancing outreach and public access; and ensuring the growth and sustainability of the institution and its services. The key chapters are: What are archives? Archival institutions: creatures of history and culture Archival service: a matter of trust Protecting archives Provenance, original order and respect des fonds Appraising and acquiring archives Arranging and describing archives Making archives available The challenge of digital archives. The final section of the book offers a glossary of terms and a wide range of specialist information including comprehensive lists of recommended further reading, national institutions, professional bodies and other sources of advice. Readership: This book is essential reading for anyone involved in managing archives. Its straightforward and approachable language ensures that fundamental principles and practices are outlined clearly for novice archivists and non-specialists; experienced professionals will also find the work of immense value in validating or updating their understanding of archival operations. The issues addressed are relevant to archival practice internationally, particularly in English-speaking countries, and concepts in place in different parts of the world are examined in order to provide a global context.
An archival collection is a unique body of information, created at a particular time by a particular organization or individual as a result of a particular activity. If the cultural record contained in an archive is to be accessible, the archivist must examine, organize, and describe each collection individually. Introduction to Archival Organization and Description guides the novice to an understanding of the nature of archival information and documentation. Chapters cover topics such as the characteristics of archival materials, the gathering and analysis of information for archival description, and the implementation of descriptive tools in information systems. The Introduction to series acquaints professionals and students with the complex issues and technologies in the production, management, and dissemination of cultural heritage information resources.
This open-ended series by the Society of American Archivists features brief, authoritative treatments - written and edited by top-level professionals - that fill significant gaps in archival literature. The goal of this modular approach is to build agile, user-centered resources. Modules treat discrete topics relating to the practical management of archives and manuscript collections in the digital age. Select modules are clustered together by topic (as they are here) and are available in print or electronic format. Each module is also available individually in electronic format so that readers can mix and match modules that best satisfy their needs and interests. Stay on trend with Trends in Archives Practice! -- from back cover.
Here is an informative new volume that celebrates the increasing use and influence of the MARC format for Archives and Manuscript Control (AMC). As the format and its companion, the online archival catalog, gain acceptance among archivists, several major issues evolve, including the adoption and adaptation of standards for archival control data and the acceptance of archival control techniques for use in library collections. This is an important volume for library cataloguers, who in order to make use of the archival control techniques embodied in the AMC format must be familiar with basic techniques of archival collections management, and archivists, who might need basic instruction in relevant library cataloging techniques. Describing Archival Materials presents the principles and techniques that describe the control of both textual and non-textual materials. Each chapter, where appropriate, contains examples of AMC records to illustrate various techniques. In examining control of textual materials, the authors: outline the requisite details of archival description, including the construction of finding aids and the representation of archival collections in catalogs according to the recognized standard, APPM explain the concepts of intellectual responsibility and the basic concepts of choice and formulation of access points, derived directly from AACR2 provide an archival translation of basic indexing concepts such as subject analysis and indexing depth, all written within the context of LCSH explore the concepts of authority control of both names and subjects consider design issues that contributed to the construction of the format and focus on appropriate methods of content designation for archival descriptions discuss the development of archival information systems, in particular focusing on archival management features and problems inherent in attempts to design systems that integrate archival and bibliographic records Three chapters also highlight archival control of nontextual materials--visual images (photographs and films), sound recordings, and cartographic materials.
This book offers a timely mix of thought-provoking chapters bringing together national and global studies on critical librarianship, and conveying the kind of research which current library managers and researchers need, mixing theory with a good dose of pragmatism.