ARST 540: Archival Public Services -- COURSE SYLLABUS

 

Program: Master of Archival Studies
Year: 2005-2006 Winter Session, Term 2
Course Schedule: Mondays, 1.30pm – 4.30pm
Location: KL216
Instructor: Janet Turner
Office location: TEF III Room 321
Office phone: None
Office hours: Mondays, 10:00am - 11:00am
E-mail address: jaturner@interchange.ubc.ca

---

Course Goal:

The goal of this course is to examine theoretical, ethical and practical aspects of the public service function of archives and archivists.

Course Objectives

Format of the course: One lecture/seminar class per week

Required and Recommended Reading:

Required:

• Blais, Gabrielle, and David Enns. “From Paper Archives to People Archives: Public Programming in the Management of Archives.” Archivaria No. 31 (Winter 1990-91): 101-113.
• Cook, Sharon Anne. “Connecting Archives and the Classroom.” Archivaria No. 44 (Fall 1997): 102-117.
• Cook, Terry. “Viewing the World Upside Down: Reflections on the Theoretical Underpinnings of Archival Public Programming.” Archivaria No. 31 (Winter 1990-91): 123-134.
• Craig, Barbara L. “What are the Clients? Who are the Products? The Future of Archival Public Services in Perspective.” Archivaria No. 31 (Winter 1990-91): 135-141.
• Craig, Barbara L. “Old Myths in New Clothes: Expectations of Archives Users.” Archivaria 45 (Spring 1998): 118-126.
• Danielson, Elena S. “The Ethics of Access.” American Archivist Vol. 52 (Winter, 1989): 52-62.
• Duff, Wendy, and Penka Stoyana. “Transforming the Crazy Quilt: Archival Displays from a User’s Point of View.” Archivaria 45 (Spring 1998): 44-77.
• Ericson, Timothy L. “’Preoccupied with our own Gardens’: Outreach and Archivists.” Archivaria No. 31 (Winter 1990-91): 114-122.
• Freeman Finch, Elsie. “Archival Advocacy: Reflections on Myths and Realities.” Archival Issues Vol. 20, No. 2 (1995): 115-127.
• Freeman, Elsie T. “In the Eye of the Beholder: Archives Administration from the User’s Point of View.” American Archivist Vol. 47, No. 2 (Spring 1984): 111-123.
• Gilliland-Swetland, Anne J., Yasmin B. Kafai, and William E. Landis. “Integrating Primary Sources into the Elementary School Classroom: A Case Study of Teachers’ Perspectives.” Archivaria No. 48 (Fall 1999): 89-115.
• Grabowski, John J. “Keepers, Users, and Funders: Building an Awareness of Archival Value.” American Archivist Vol. 55 (Summer 1992): 464-472.
• Gracy, David B. “Archivists, You Are What People Think You Keep.” American Archivist Vol. 52 (Winter 1989): 72-78.
• Jacobs, Sally J. “How and When We Make the News: Local Newspaper Coverage of Archives in Two Wisconsin Cities.” Archival Issues Vol. 22, No. 1 (1997): 45-60.
• Jimerson, Randall C. “Redefining Archival Identity: Meeting User Needs in the Information Society.” American Archivist Vol. 52 (Summer 1989): 332-340.
• Joyce, William L. “Archivists and Research Use.” American Archivist Vol. 47, No. 2 (Spring 1984): 124-133.
• O’Toole, James M. “The Archivist’s Perspective: Knowledge and Values.” In Understanding Archives and Manuscripts. Society of American Archivists: Archival Fundamentals Series. Chicago , 1990, 49-60.
• Tissing, Robert W. Jr. “The Orientation Interview in Archival Research.” American Archivist Vol. 47 No. 2 (Spring 1984): 173-178.
• Wilson, Ian E. “Towards a Vision of Archival Services.” Archivaria No. 31 (Winter 1990-91): 91-100.

Recommended:

• Cohen, Laura B., ed. Reference Services for Archives and Manuscripts. The Haworth Press Inc.: New York , 1997.
• Edwards, Rhianna. Archivists’ outlook on service to genealogists in selected Canadian provincial archives. Thesis (M.A.S.), UBC, 1993
• Gordon, Heather Marie. Archival Exhibitions: purposes and principles. Thesis (M.A.S.), UBC, 1994.
• Kiemele, Sandra. A Study of Archivists’ Perceptions of Reference Service. Thesis (M.A.S), UBC, 1989.
• Pugh, Mary Jo. Providing Reference Services for Archives and Manuscripts. Archival Fundamentals Series, Society of American Archivists: Chicago , 1992.

Note – Additions may be made to the reading list.

 

Course Assignments, Due dates and Weight in relation to final course mark:

Course Schedule

Subject to revision

Date	Topics	Assignments
1. January 9, 2006	Introduction to course
2. January 16	Principles of public service
3. January 23	Public image of archives/Use and users
4. January 30	Elucidating archival systems
5. February 6	The reference encounter (Guest speaker or tour – TBC)	Term Paper due this week (Friday)
February 13	No class – Reading week
6. February 20	Administration of reading rooms
7. February 27	Exhibits and other public programs	Presentations:
8. March 13	Virtual reading rooms and distant access (Guest Speaker, TBC)	Presentations:
9. March 20	Educational outreach – promoting archives to new users. (Guest speaker – Susan Walters)	Presentations:
10. March 27	Archival Advocacy	Presentations:
11. March 29	Limits to access	Presentations:
12. April 3	Ethical issues in public service – class debate

Attendance: The calendar states: “Regular attendance is expected of students in all their classes (including lectures, laboratories, tutorials, seminars, etc.). Students who neglect their academic work and assignments may be excluded from the final examinations. Students who are unavoidably absent because of illness or disability should report to their instructors on return to classes.”

Evaluation: Assignments will not be accepted late unless prior arrangements are made with me. If an extension is granted, a late penalty will be imposed, except in cases of legitimate illness or emergencies. The late penalty is 2% per day.

All assignments will be awarded numerical grades using the criteria given in your SLAIS Student Handbook.

Written & Spoken English Requirement: Written and spoken work may receive a lower mark if it is, in the opinion of the instructor, deficient in English

Additional course information : Style manual for the course: Turabian, Kate L. A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations, 6 th ed., rev. John Grossman and Alice Bennett. Chicago : University of Chicago Press, 1996.