Learning Outcomes:
• Recognise the importance of a preventive approach to preservation and articulate the difference between preservation and conservation
• Learn about best practice approaches to traditional and digital preservation
• Gain insight into the nature of traditional analogue materials and their resultant preservation vulnerabilities and requirements
• Identify the wide range of activities that comprise a preservation programme and begin preservation planning
• Recognise the core aspects of digital preservation and the key skills and tools to commence digital preservation activities
• Learn to compile collecting policies and depositor agreements and recognise the key considerations when accessioning archives.
Indicative Module Content:
The module will cover the following broad areas: Week 1 introduction to preservation and preservation principles; Week 2 Understanding traditional archive & historic library materials and the threats they face; Week 3 Preservation in practice: archive and library buildings; storage and environments; Week 4 Preservation in practice: other aspects of collection care; Week 5, a class visit or guest practitioner speaker; Week 6 Emergency planning, prevention and recovery for traditional archive & library materials; Week 7 Preserving digital materials: introduction and issues; Week 10, Preserving digital materials: approaches and options; Week 11, Preserving digital materials, preservation software systems; Weeks 12-14, Acquiring archives in traditional and digital formats, working with depositors and developing acquisition policies and procedures.