LIBR 256-01
Archives and Manuscripts
Spring 2009 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
ANGEL
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This class is taught completely in a classroom setting. To improve communication with each other and to share assignments and readings, an access code for the class Angel site password will be distributed by email and in the first class.

All classes will occur 1-5 pm on the following days 1/31; 2/14; 2/28; 3/14; 3/28; 4/11; 4/18 and will be held in 5 Evans Hall at the Berkeley Campus, University of California, Berkeley (for directions, see: http://www.berkeley.edu/map/3dmap/3dmap.shtml).

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:

  1. understand appraisal theory and application
  2. understand current issues effecting the archives profession and appropriate professional preparation for the field of archives
  3. know how acquisition and accessioning processes are accomplished
  4. understand the issues relating to cataloging, arrangement, and description of archival collections
  5. know how to provide public services to archival collections and what the legal and policy issues are relating to such use.
  6. understand the complex issues surrounding electronic records management
  7. 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.

Course Requirements

Course Format & ANGEL
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.

NB: All classes will occur in 5 Evans Hall at the Berkeley Campus, University of California, Berkeley (for directions, see: http://www.berkeley.edu/map/3dmap/3dmap.shtml).

In order to enhance communication with each other, I have also made available the ANGEL 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 ANGEL, there are helpful tutorials at http://ischool.sjsu.edu/angel/

Assignments
The assignments for this course are:

  1. Electronic Records Appraisal (10 points)
    DUE: Midnight, Saturday, February 21, 2009

    I have placed in the Assignments section of Blackboard a URL linking to electronic files created by an administrative unit at Berkeley. You will identify a minimum of six (6) records series and determine their values using an appraisal theory covered in class. Send the completed appraisal forms to me via email attachment in MS Word.
  2. Reference Resources Review (20 points)
    DUE: Midnight, Saturday,  March 7, 2009
    Review & Analysis (6-8 pages) of the following reference sources: The location of these resources is also cited in ANGEL but some are only available at UC Berkeley or by proxy using an access code supplied by the instructor. These are formal papers; APA style, proper grammar, appropriate writing style and correct spelling are required and will be graded. You may use references to library/archives literature. Please use proper APA styles for any references used. Please send these to me via email attachments in MS Word.
  3. Cataloging Project (10 Points)
    DUE: Midnight, Saturday, March 21, 2009

    I have placed in the Assignments section of Angel a link to digital images of a small manuscript collection that you will catalog using the accompanying MARC record worksheet.
  4. Articles Review: Electronic Records Debate (20 points)
    DUE: April 4, 2009
    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 opposing issues raised in both 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.
  5. Final Exam; DUE: Midnight, Saturday, May 2, 2009  (30 points)
  6. 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:

E-Records Appraisal10 points
Reference Resources Paper20 points
Cataloging Project10 points
Articles Review20 points
Class Participation10 points
 Final Exam30 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.

Textbooks and Readings

Readings
Assigned Readings on ANGEL.

Required Textbooks:

  • Hunter, G. S. (2003). Developing and Maintaining Practical Archives: A How-To-Do-It Manual. Neal-Schuman. Available through Amazon: 1555704670. arrow gif indicating link outside sjsu domain

Recommended Textbooks:

  • Boles, F. (2005). Selecting and appraising archives and manuscripts. Society of American Archivists. Available through Amazon: 1931666113. arrow gif indicating link outside sjsu domain
  • Kurtz, M. J. (2004). Managing Archival and manuscript repositories. Society of American Archivists. Available through Amazon: 1931166609. arrow gif indicating link outside sjsu domain
  • O'Toole, J. M., & Cox, R. J. (2006). Understanding Archives and Manuscripts. Society of American Archivists. Available through Amazon: 1931666206. arrow gif indicating link outside sjsu domain
  • Pugh, M. J. (2005). Providing reference services for archives and manuscripts. Society of American Archivists. Available through Amazon: 1931666121. arrow gif indicating link outside sjsu domain
  • Roe, K. (2005). Arranging and Describing Archives and Manuscripts (Archival Fundamentals Series II). Society of American Archivists. Available through Amazon: 193166613X. arrow gif indicating link outside sjsu domain


Grading Scale

The standard SJSU School of Information Grading Scale is utilized for all iSchool courses:

97 to 100 A
94 to 96 A minus
91 to 93 B plus
88 to 90 B
85 to 87 B minus
82 to 84 C plus
79 to 81 C
76 to 78 C minus
73 to 75 D plus
70 to 72 D
67 to 69 D minus
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;
    For core courses in the MLIS program (not MARA) — INFO 200, INFO 202, INFO 204 — the iSchool requires that students earn a B in the course. If the grade is less than B (B- or lower) after the first attempt you will be placed on administrative probation.  You must repeat the class the following semester. If -on the second attempt- you do not pass the class with a grade of B or better (not B- but B) you will be disqualified.
  • 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 3.0 Grade Point Average (GPA).

University Policies

General Expectations, Rights and Responsibilities of the Student

As members of the academic community, students accept both the rights and responsibilities incumbent upon all members of the institution. Students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with SJSU's policies and practices pertaining to the procedures to follow if and when questions or concerns about a class arises. See University Policy S90-5 at http://www.sjsu.edu/senate/docs/S90-5.pdf. More detailed information on a variety of related topics is available in the SJSU catalog at http://info.sjsu.edu/web-dbgen/catalog/departments/LIS.html. In general, it is recommended that students begin by seeking clarification or discussing concerns with their instructor. If such conversation is not possible, or if it does not serve to address the issue, it is recommended that the student contact the Department Chair as a next step.

Dropping and Adding

Students are responsible for understanding the policies and procedures about add/drop, grade forgiveness, etc. Refer to the current semester's Catalog Policies section at http://info.sjsu.edu/static/catalog/policies.html. Add/drop deadlines can be found on the current academic year calendars document on the Academic Calendars webpage at http://www.sjsu.edu/provost/services/academic_calendars/. The Late Drop Policy is available at http://www.sjsu.edu/aars/policies/latedrops/policy/. Students should be aware of the current deadlines and penalties for dropping classes.

Information about the latest changes and news is available at the Advising Hub at http://www.sjsu.edu/advising/.

Consent for Recording of Class and Public Sharing of Instructor Material

University Policy S12-7, http://www.sjsu.edu/senate/docs/S12-7.pdf, requires students to obtain instructor's permission to record the course and the following items to be included in the syllabus:

  • "Common courtesy and professional behavior dictate that you notify someone when you are recording him/her. You must obtain the instructor's permission to make audio or video recordings in this class. Such permission allows the recordings to be used for your private, study purposes only. The recordings are the intellectual property of the instructor; you have not been given any rights to reproduce or distribute the material."
    • It is suggested that the syllabus include the instructor's process for granting permission, whether in writing or orally and whether for the whole semester or on a class by class basis.
    • In classes where active participation of students or guests may be on the recording, permission of those students or guests should be obtained as well.
  • "Course material developed by the instructor is the intellectual property of the instructor and cannot be shared publicly without his/her approval. You may not publicly share or upload instructor generated material for this course such as exam questions, lecture notes, or homework solutions without instructor consent."

Academic integrity

Your commitment, as a student, to learning is evidenced by your enrollment at San Jose State University. The University Academic Integrity Policy F15-7 at http://www.sjsu.edu/senate/docs/F15-7.pdf 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 Student Conduct and Ethical Development website is available at http://www.sjsu.edu/studentconduct/.

Campus Policy in Compliance with the American Disabilities Act

If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability, or if you need to make special arrangements in case the building must be evacuated, please make an appointment with me as soon as possible, or see me during office hours. Presidential Directive 97-03 at http://www.sjsu.edu/president/docs/directives/PD_1997-03.pdf requires that students with disabilities requesting accommodations must register with the Accessible Education Center (AEC) at http://www.sjsu.edu/aec to establish a record of their disability.

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