LIBR 256-01
Archives and Manuscripts
Spring 2012 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
D2L
iSchool eBookstore
 

This course will be available on D2L on Monday, January 23, 2012. You will be enrolled into the site automatically. All lectures, readings, assignments and instructions are available on D2L.

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 & D2L
This class is taught completely online. D2L will be used to access pertinent assignments while recorded lectures will be delivered through Elluminate.

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 D2L, there are helpful tutorials at http://ischool.sjsu.edu/d2l

Assignments
Details about assignments for this course are found in D2L. You will be graded on the following assignments:

  • Electronic Records Appraisal (10 points)
    I have placed in the Lessons section of D2L a URL linking to electronic files created by an administrative unit at Berkeley. You will identify four (6) records series and determine their values using an appraisal form covered in class. Submit the completed appraisal forms via D2L Dropbox.
  • Reference Resources Review (15 points)
    Review & Analysis (minimum 8 pages) of archival online reference resources cited in D2L. You will review a variety of online reference resources made specifically for archival collections using a form available on D2L. Submit the form via the D2L Dropbox.
  • Cataloging Project (15 Points)
    I have placed in the Lessons section of D2L a link to digital images of a small manuscript collection that you will catalog using an accompanying MARC record cataloging worksheet. Submit the assignment via D2L Dropbox.
  • Series Arrangement Plan (10 Points)                                                               In D2L you will find information regarding an unprocessed collection in the Bancroft Library. You will be asked to review this information and recommend the series arrangment and a processing plan. Submit the assignment via D2L Dropbox.
  • Final Exam (30 points)
    The final exam will consist of 60 multiple choices questions available via D2L.
  • Class Discussion (20 points)
    Because this course is an intensive, compressed introduction to the subject, it is imperative that students fully engage in the case study questions on D2L.

Schedule
The schedule and specific details about the Themes covered in this class are available on D2L.

  • Theme One: Introduction to Archives; History of Archives; Archival Education; Code of Ethics
  • Theme Two: Archives and Social Memory, Acquisitions & Accessioning, Appraisal Theories
  • Theme Three: Public Services & Outreach
  • Theme Four: Copyright & Privacy
  • Theme Five: Arrangement & Description, MARC Cataloging, Preservation
  • Theme Six: Electronic Records, EAD, Online Access Methods & Strategies

Late Assignments
Points equaling a full grade will be assessed against the student for late assignments for each day the assignment is late, unless there are mitigating circumstances that are communicated to the professor BEFORE the assignment is due.

Incomplete Grades
Incomplete grades cannot be granted unless SLIS administration has provided prior written authorization. Thus, it is in the student's best interest to pursue this matter with them as soon as possible, if/when the issue arises.

Textbooks and Readings

Readings
Other than the two required texts, additional assigned Readings also in D2L.

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
  • 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

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
  • 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

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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