ARCV41510

Learning Outcomes:

On successful completion of this module students to be able:
-Understand the importance of a preventive approach to preservation and articulate the difference between preventive and remedial preservation activities
-Be familiar with the physical components and configuration of traditional analogue materials, and their resultant preservation vulnerabilities and requirements
-Identify the wide range of activities that comprise a preservation programme
-Develop understanding of the main issues and challenges in the preservation of digital archives
-Develop awareness of the core aspects of approaches to digital preservation and the key skills and tools to commence digital preservation activities.

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: storage and other aspects of collection care; Week 5 Preservation planning; Week 6 Emergency planning, prevention and recovery for traditional archive & library materials; Week 7 Site visit; Weeks 8 & 9 - reading period; Week 10 Preserving digital collections: introduction and issues; Weeks 11 & 12 Preserving digital materials: approaches and tools; Week 13 Digital repository options and preservation software; Week 14 - Preservation software workshop and guest speaker

Student Effort Hours:

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:

This is a small group module which is taught through weekly 2 hour seminars. Each seminar provides an overview of the week's topic, supported by the use of lecture slides, case studies and in-class activities, such as the analysis of relevant policy documents. Students are encouraged in individual active learning through participation in class discussions and in-class exercises. Student learning is further supported by a practitioner guest lecture and/or site visit. Autonomous learning includes the reading of relevant international preservation standards and guidelines available on Brightspace in advance of the relevant class.

While there will be discussion in this module of the extent to which generative AI is being used by recordkeepers to assist their work, the use of AI tools (e.g. Gemini, Chat GPT, Copilot) is not permitted in this module. Students are expected to engage directly with module materials and activities without the use of AI tools.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.

Module Requisites and Incompatibles

Incompatibles:
ARCV41480 - Archives preservation


 

Assessment Strategy

 

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?

Feedback on all assessments will be provided to each student via Brightspace. Individual feedback on all assignments will be provided by one-to-one meetings on Zoom or via email if requested by students

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.