34381 - Computer Science for Archive Keeping (1) (LM)

Learning outcomes

The course aims to introduce the study of the archival document and the related finding aids for computer processing. From one side problems related to the description according to the standards in use will be faced; on the other hand we will address the issue of conservation and preservation over time. Special attention will be devoted to the creation of open access environments for digital documents in the field of historical archives.

Course contents

The course aims to provide the critical basic in the management and description of historical archives.

Will be mainly addressed the following issues:

■ Organization of archival information systems and analysis of the main resources;
■ The application of computer techniques to the world of archives, with particular reference to archival description and standards in place (ISAD-ISAAR);
■ XML schemas for the creation of finding aids. The standard Encoded Archival Description (EAD) and Encoded Archival Context (EAC) and their application;
■ Archives and Web issues related to the internet presentation of archival descriptive systems, in conjunction with the descriptive standards and principles for the quality of cultural websites (architecture, communication, languages, HTML-CSS);
■ Computer programs for the archival inventory;
■ The role of ontologies in the representation and management of archival documents.

Readings/Bibliography

• GUERCIO Mariella, Archivistica informatica : i documenti in ambiente digitale. Roma, Carocci, 2002;
• VITALI, Stefano, Passato digitale. Le fonti dello storico nell'era del computer, Milano 2004;
• Conseil international des archives, ISAD(G), adottata dal Comitato per gli standard descrittivi, Stoccolma, Svezia, 19-22 settembre 1999. Trad. italiana a cura di Stefano Vitali con la collaborazione di Maurizio Savoja. 2000 (in allegato fra il materiale didattico);
• International council on archives, ISAAR (CPF): international standard archival authority record for corporate bodies, persons and families. 2 ed. 2004 (in allegato fra il materiale didattico);
• Gli standard descrittivi ISAD (G) e ISAAR (CPF) e il documento del Consiglio Internazionale degli Archivi sugli strumenti di ricerca sono pubblicati in "Rassegna degli Archivi di Stato", a. LXIII - n. 1, gen./apr. 2003 (in allegato fra il materiale didattico);
• Society of american archivists: Encoded Archival Description working group, Encoded archival description tag library: version 1.0 / prepared and maintained by the Encoded Archival Description Working Group of the Society of American Archivists and the Network Development and MARC Standards Office of the Library of Congress. Chicago : The Society of american archivists, 1998. URL= http://www.loc.gov/ead (official site)
• Society of american archivists: Encoded Archival Context for Corporate Bodies, Persons, and Families - EAC-CPF. URL= http://eac.staatsbibliothek-berlin.de/ (official site)
• EAD and EAC ontologies dal sito di XDAMS (Regesta):http://www.regesta.com/xdams/home.html

Teaching methods

• Lessons;
• Seminars;
• Online tools browsing;
• Software analysis;
• XML/EAD-EAC markup.

Assessment methods

1. Presentation of a seminar on one of the themes of the course. You can start from the bibliography that will be provided during the course. The workshop will be summarized in a presentation of about 15 slides on PowerPoint.

Possible macro-thematic seminar in respect of which identify a sub-theme:

    Methodology;
    Archival information systems;
    Standard;
    Archives in the web;
    Digitization;
    Cultural Web and digital preservation;
    Software description and inventory.

2. Discussion of the features of one or more web archival sites to be choosen among those presented during the course, with particular reference to: a descriptive model and adaptation to descriptive standards; peculiarities in the implementation of this model; management of data, in particular reference to specific technical solutions; presentation of data and access.

In detail the following criteria have to be checked:

    Compliant with the model Minerva (architecture and content).
    Type of offered tools (directories, guides, inventories, etc..).
    Technology used for the publication and querying (static / dynamic).
    Use of formal languages ​​(XML / HTML / XHTML).
    Application of descriptive standards (ISAD / ISAAR).
    Use of formal schemes (EAD / EAC).
    Integration with the central systems (SIUSA / SIAS).

Non-attending students are required, in addition to the preparation of the seminar and the critical discussion of an archival website, even to read the full text of one of the volumes reported in the literature (Guercio or Vitali) and the critical discussion of ISAD, ISAAR and EAD.

Teaching tools

Classes are held in the computer lab equipped to consult online materials and produce digital objects.

During the lectures will be provided bibliographic material support.

Office hours

See the website of Francesca Tomasi