ARCV30770 Archives looking out

Academic Year 2024/2025

Facilitating access to archives and promoting their use is a core activity of the archivist. This module focuses on how archives are used and made available, and how the archivist engages with this process, from the provision of access to archive collections to proactive outreach activities. It examines the main ways in which archives are experienced: in the research room, physical and virtual exhibitions, websites, social media and educational projects. The module explores the issues that arise in the provision of access in a reading room and in the online environment, including the creation of access policies, dealing with different user groups, access to sensitive material, managing copyright and data protection, and security issues. It highlights the need for policies, standards and evaluation in the interaction between the archivist and the user.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

On successful completion of this module the student should be able to:
• Formulate best practice procedures for running a research room
• Demonstrate the potential of the web and social media to enhance and develop user services and widen access
• Be aware of the main challenges that can be encountered in the provision of access to archive collections
• Appreciate the experience of using archives as a researcher.


Indicative Module Content:

The module will cover the following broad areas: Week 1: Definitions of access and outreach, perceptions of the user; Week 2: Understanding Users and Use; Week 3 and 4: Framing Services Access Policies, Restrictions and regulations; Weeks 5 and 6: Providing Services for Users - the Research Room procedures and services; Weeks 7 and 8: Access and outreach: developing an online presence; Weeks 9 and 10: Exhibiting Archives- physical and virtual; Weeks 11 and 12 Broadening Outreach - educational initiatives, community engagement, community archiving.

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Small Group

24
Autonomous Student Learning

100
Total

124
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
This is a small-group module. It is taught through a two-hour weekly seminar. Each seminar, some of which feature contributions from guest lecturers, provides an overview of the week’s topic, focusing upon different aspects of providing access to archives, e.g. the development of access frameworks, managing the on- site and online research room, exhibitions etc. There is a focus upon individual active / task-based learning by means of class discussion, group work and in-class exercises. Advanced skills are developed through a focus on the experience of the user of archives, the evaluation of various outreach activities and planning the provision of services. Autonomous learning is advanced through ongoing assignments. 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Equivalents:
Archives looking out (HIS30770)


 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Assignment(Including Essay): Write an access policy for your archive which shows an awareness of the issues involved in providing access and which can be used to frame decisions around access n/a Graded No

50
Assignment(Including Essay): Write a report that gives an overview of your archive's collections and identifies any issues that need to be considered in providing access to them and outline current access arrangements. n/a Graded No

50

Carry forward of passed components
No
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Individual feedback on the assignments is given in Brightspace. General feedback is given in class and also by appointment if requested by individual students.

Name Role
Mr Michael Reilly Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Mr Michael Reilly Tutor