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

1. References to general archival science. The concept of archive and the archival constraint.

2. The three ages of the archive in Italian archival doctrine and comparison with archival doctrine in other countries.

3. The characteristics of the three ages. Archival operations and tools.

4. Document management systems. UNI ISO 15489-1 and UNI ISO 15489-2 standards.

5. The archival description; international standards for archival description: ISAD(G); ISAAR(CPF); ISDIAH, ISDF, RiC; software for archival description.

6. Laboratory activity on the use of IT tools for archival description

7. Archival information systems and archival resources on the web.

8. Overview of the creation, management and conservation of digital archives and the IT management of documents and document flows.

9. Notes on the problem of digital preservation.

NOTE: The course contents for non-attending students is the same as that for attending students.

Readings/Bibliography

In addition to the teaching materials provided by the teacher and covered in class, the following texts are sources of study for the exam:

- PAOLA CARUCCI, MARIA GUERCIO, Manuale di archivistica, Carocci, Roma, 2021.

- MARIA GUERCIO, Archivistica informatica, Carocci, Roma, 2019.

- GIORGETTA BONFIGLIO DOSIO, Sistemi di gestione documentale, Cleup, Padova, 2017

- STEFANO ALLEGREZZA, RAFFAELLA BISCIONI (a cura di), Gli archivi fotografici personali nell’era digitale: memorie private e public history, Torre del Lago (Lucca), Civita editoriale, 2021

Teaching methods

The course includes:

- theoretical lessons;

- guided tours;

- laboratory activity on the use of IT tools for archival description.

Assessment methods

Learning is assessed through an oral test consisting of a discussion of the topics covered in class and of the assigned study texts aimed at ascertaining the knowledge and skills acquired, the exhibition and communication skills and the autonomy of judgment.

Students who will demonstrate that they have achieved a comprehensive understanding of the topics covered in the lessons, showing critical sense and using adequate means of verbal expression, will be evaluated with an excellent score (A = 27-30 with honors).
A predominantly mnemonic acquisition of the topics covered in the course, associated with not fully satisfactory verbal expression and logical skills, will be evaluated with a score between good (B = 24-26) and satisfactory (C = 21-23).
A minimum acquisition of the topics covered in the course, associated with inadequate verbal expression and logical skills, will be evaluated with sufficient score (D = 18-20).
The absence of a minimum acquisition of the topics of the course combined with inadequate verbal expression and logical skills will be evaluated with insufficient score (E).

For students attending the course, the assessment of the learning can be carried out, alternatively, through a written test, which will be held at the end of the course, and which will consist of closed questions and open-ended questions on topics covered in class.

Teaching tools

Further information on the availability of handouts, bibliographic details and resources on the web will be provided during the course. Students with specific learning disorders may contact the teacher for activation of appropriate test support tools for the exam.

Office hours

See the website of Stefano Allegrezza