90408 - Records Management and Archives

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student must have the following knowledge and skills: - Knowledge and understanding: being able to distinguish the different phases of life of an archive and to highlight its constituent elements; knowing the operations and archival tools used in each phase. - Ability to apply knowledge and understanding: to be able to find and use archival tools autonomously; be able to carry out the archival description of a fund using one of the computer tools illustrated in class. - Autonomy of judgment: knowing how to establish the criteria to be followed in describing the archives, motivating their methodological choices. - Communication skills: knowing how to illustrate with logical rigor and terminological issues also techniques related to a specific topic. - Learning skills: knowing how to deepen independently the issues related to the discipline

Course contents

• COURSE PROGRAM
  
  Introductory elements: archiving and polymorphism of contemporary archives
  
• • Relevant regulatory aspects and conservation model
    
  • The life cycle of the archive
    • The current archive: purpose, activities, and tools for management, organization, and conservation
    • The repository archive: purpose and tools. Organization and management with particular reference to selection and disposal processes, including in a digital environment
    • The historical archive: purposes and activities, with particular reference to the processes of protection, description, ordering, and mediation
  • Archival description
    • Description standards from ISAD to RiC
    • Methodology and purposes of archival description
    • Description with software: overview of resources and features
  • Research tools
    • Main types of tools
    • The inventory and databases of archival descriptions: construction, use, and retrieval
    • Archival information systems and the cultural web
  • Dematerialization processes
    • The transition to digital
    • The digital archive: forms and main issues in production, management, and long-term conservation best practices
    • Digitization: opportunities and critical issues

  The course may be supplemented by seminars aimed at exploring the practical aspects of the topics covered and developing students' communication and methodological skills.

  
  
  

Readings/Bibliography

Exam papers

 

Federico Valacchi, Diventare archivisti. Competenze tecniche di un mestiere sul confine, Edizione riveduta e corretta, Editrice Bibliografica, Milano, 2022

Stefano Moscadelli, “Archival Science and Research Tools: Methodological Aspects from the Beginnings of the Historical Method to Standards”. JLIS.It 14 (3) 2023, p. 15-26. https://doi.org/10.36253/jlis.it-531.

Federico Valacchi, L'archivio aumentato. Tempi e modi di una dematerializzazione critica, Editrice Bibliografica, Milano, 2024

 

Further bibliographical references will be suggested by the instructor during the lessons.

Teaching methods

Lectures with possible seminar additions.

The course is part of the University's innovative teaching project.

Assessment methods

The exam is oral, based on a topic chosen by the candidates. The assessment will focus on the knowledge and mastery of the topics discussed during the lessons and the recommended reading list, the appropriateness of language use, also with regard to the specific field of study, the ability to summarize and analyze topics and concepts, and finally the critical and methodological skills acquired by the student.


The final assessment will be based on the following criteria:


- fail: lack of basic knowledge and inability to produce a correct interpretation of texts and/or problems


- pass: possession of basic knowledge; interpretation mainly correct, but conducted with inaccuracy and little autonomy


- good grade: intermediate level knowledge; fully correct interpretation, but not always accurate and independent


- excellent grade: high level of knowledge; interpretation of problems not only correct but conducted with independence and accuracy. Excellent oral expression skills

Teaching tools

Supplementary teaching materials will be used, in particular slides summarizing the topics covered.


The basic teaching materials will be available in the ‘Virtual teaching resources’ section, which can be accessed with a password that the teacher will provide at the beginning of the lessons.


Please note that initiatives (educational visits, seminars, conferences, book presentations, etc.) indicated and/or organized by the instructor are to be considered supplementary to the course and may be recognized in the exam.


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Students who, for reasons related to disabilities or specific learning disorders (SLD), require compensatory tools may communicate their needs to the teacher in order to be referred to the appropriate contacts and agree on the most appropriate measures to be taken.


https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/it/per-studenti

Office hours

See the website of Anita De Sossi