ARST 500: INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND ARCHIVES (3)
Program: Master of Archival Studies
Year: 2014 Winter Session Term 2
Course Schedule: Wednesdays 6.00 - 8.50pm
Location: Terrace Lab
Instructor: Maria Robinson
Office location: SLAIS Adjunct Office. Contact me for office hours.
E-mail address: robins42@mail.ubc.ca
Course Goals: The goal of this course is to provide students with knowledge on the role of
technology in archival work, at the theoretical and pragmatic level, through lectures, guest
speaker presentations, educational visits, lab and in-class activities, and class discussions. The
students will gain insight into relevant technology raised issues and will learn what kind of
technology is applied in archives. The knowledge acquired in this course complements the
knowledge obtained in other required first and second term ARST courses and establishes a
foundation for second year elective courses and summer internships.
Course Objectives:
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
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Discuss the role of technology in archival work
Differentiate among and evaluate the most commonly used types of applications in
archival work, including records management and archival management software, digital
imaging software, and trusted digital repositories
Design and develop a relational database using Microsoft Access and SQL
Create and edit websites using HTML5 and CSS
Demonstrate familiarity with basic programming logic
Demonstrate an ability to communicate with IT about technical needs
Find solutions to technical problems on their own
Course Topics:
 Technology and the changing landscape of archival work
 Archival functions and technology: digital preservation; acquisition; appraisal;
disposition; accessioning; arrangement and description; online access; databases
 Records management and archival management software (locally hosted and SaaS
options)
 Database design for archival users
 Web design for archival users
 Programming logic using Python
 Finding and evaluating technical resources online
REQUIRED Co-requisites: MAS and Dual Students: completion of the MAS core courses.
MLIS students should take LIBR 500.
Format of the course:
The class meets for three hours each week. Class sessions will be a combination of lectures,
discussions, lab activities, software demonstrations, student and guest speaker presentations.
Required and Recommended Reading: Required and recommended readings from selected
web sites, the journal literature and other sources are provided at the end of this syllabus.
NOTE: Required Readings due dates will be assigned in class based on class discussions and
rate of progress. Additional readings may be provided in class.
Course Assignments, Due dates and Weight in relation to final course mark:
[subject to change based on class discussions and progress]
Course assignments will be distributed separately in class.
Late assignments will be assessed a two percentage points per day penalty. If you have ANY
questions about the assignments, format or naming conventions, please let me know.
Assignment
Individual archives technology presentation
Website:
(1) Wireframes
(2) HTML pages with CSS
(3) Create and embed audio/video content
(4) Update another team’s site
Database design and development:
(1) Requirements and User Stories
(2) Entity relationship diagram
(3) Build Access database
(4) Create queries, forms, reports
Group presentation on archival/records management
software
Programming in Python:
(1) Introduction to Python, Set Up, Printing, and
Commenting
(2) Numbers, Variables, and Strings
(3) Boolean Logic
(4) If-Else Statements
(5) For Loops and Lists
(6) While Loops
(7) Debugging
Weekly quizzes (10 x 2%)
Class participation:
Class attendance, including attendance of lectures
and guest lectures, and participation in in-class
activities
Due Date
Jan 14
Weight
5%
20%
Jan 19
Jan 26
Feb 2
Feb 11
20%
Feb 23
Mar 2
Mar 9
Mar 25
Apr 1
15%
Apr 8
15%
Ongoing
Ongoing
20%
5%
Required Articles:
Changing Landscape of Archival Work
Samouelian, Mary. “Embracing Web 2.0: Archives and the Newest Generation of Web
Applications.” The American Archivist 72 (Spring/Summer 2009) pp.42-70. Available at:
http://archivists.metapress.com/content/k73112x7n0773111/fulltext.pdf
Theimer, Kate. “What Is the Meaning of Archives 2.0?” American Archivist 74 (Spring/Summer
2011) pp.58-68. Available at:
http://archivists.metapress.com/content/h7tn4m4027407666/fulltext.pdf
Tibbo, Helen. “On the Occasion of the SAA's Diamond Jubilee: A Profession Coming of Age in
the Digital Era.” American Archivist 75 (Spring/Summer 2012) pp.16-34. Available at:
http://archivists.metapress.com/content/a054u0t82478x41v/fulltext.pdf
Web Design, Accessibility and Usability for Archival Users
Weisen, Marcus, Petrie, Helen, King, Neil and Fraser Hamilton. “Web Accessibility Revealed:
The Museums, Libraries and Archives Council Audit.” Ariadne 44 (July 2005). Available at:
http://www.ariadne.ac.uk/issue44/petrie-weisen/
Prom, Christopher J. “Using Web Analytics to Improve Online Access to Archival Resources.”
American Archivist 74 (Spring/Summer 2011) pp.158-184. Available at:
http://archivists.metapress.com/content/h56018515230417v/fulltext.pdf
W3Schools. HTML Tutorial. Available at: http://www.w3schools.com/html/default.asp
W3Schools. CSS Tutorial. Available at: http://www.w3schools.com/css/css_intro.asp
Archival/RM Functions and Technology
Heyliger, Sean, Juli McLoone, and Nikki Lynn Thomas. “Making Connections: A Survey of
Special Collections' Social Media Outreach.” American Archivist 76 (Fall/Winter 2013) pp.374414.
Duranti, Luciana. “From Digital Diplomatics to Digital Records Forensics.” Archivaria 68 (Fall
2009) pp. 39-66. Available at:
http://journals.sfu.ca/archivar/index.php/archivaria/article/view/13229/14548
Force, Donald C. “From Peruvian Guano to Electronic Records: Canadian E-Discovery and
Records Professionals.” Archivaria 69 (Spring 2010) pp.49-75. Available at:
http://journals.sfu.ca/archivar/index.php/archivaria/article/view/13261/14572
Cook, Tim. “Archives and Privacy in a Wired World: The Impact of the Personal Information Act
(Bill C-6) on Archives.” Archivaria 53 (2002) pp. 94-114. Available at:
http://journals.sfu.ca/archivar/index.php/archivaria/article/view/12839/14060
Programming and Communicating with IT
Conrad, Mark et al. “PAT Projects Lessons Learned: Archivists' Perspectives.” Archival Outlook
(November/December 2005): 10-11 and 23. Available at:
http://files.archivists.org/periodicals/Archival-Outlook/Back-Issues/2005-6-AO.pdf
Conrad, Mark et al. “PAT Projects Lessons Learned, Part 2: IT Professionals' Perspectives.”
Archival Outlook (March/April 2006): 8 and 27. Available at:
http://files.archivists.org/periodicals/Archival-Outlook/Back-Issues/2006-2-AO.pdf
Anonymous. “Do you speak teach? Communication breaks down at the help desk.” InfoWorld
(June 19, 2013). Available at: http://www.infoworld.com/article/2611732/it-jobs/do-you-speaktech--communication-breaks-down-at-the-help-desk.html
Software Development Lifecycle
“Systems Development Life Cycle.” Wikipedia. Available at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Systems_development_life_cycle
Roth, Ronica. “User Stories.” RallyDev. Available at:
https://help.rallydev.com/sites/default/files/multimedia/videos/user_stories.swf
Roth, Ronica. “Writing Good User Stories.” RallyDev. Available at:
https://help.rallydev.com/sites/default/files/multimedia/videos/writing_good_user_stories.swf
Database Design
Microsoft. Database Design Basics. Available at: http://office.microsoft.com/en-ca/accesshelp/database-design-basics-HA010341617.aspx
Davidson, Louis. “Ten Common Database Design Mistakes.” Simple Talk. 26 February 2007.
Available at: https://www.simple-talk.com/sql/database-administration/ten-common-databasedesign-mistakes/
Digitization
Canadian Council of Archives. Digitization and Archives. October 2002. Available at:
http://www.cdncouncilarchives.ca/digitization_en.pdf
Miller, Larisa K. “All Text Considered: A Perspective on Mass Digitizing and Archival
Processing.” American Archivist 76 (Fall/Winter 2013) pp.521-541.
Gracy, Karen F. “Ambition and Ambivalence: A Study of Professional Attitudes toward Digital
Distribution of Archival Moving Images.” American Archivist 76 (Fall/Winter 2013) pp.346-373.
MS Access
Microsoft. Training Courses for Access 2013. Available at: http://office.microsoft.com/enca/access-help/training-courses-for-access-2013-HA104030993.aspx
SQL
W3Schools. SQL Tutorial. Available at: http://www.w3schools.com/sql/
Digital Preservation
Jantz, Ronald and Michael J.Giarlo. “Digital Preservation: Architecture and Technology for
Trusted Digital Repositories.” D-Lib Magazine 11, no. 6 (June 2005). Available at:
http://www.dlib.org/dlib/june05/jantz/06jantz.html
Grimard, Jacques. “Managing the Long-term Preservation of Electronic Archives or Preserving
the Medium and the Message.” Archivaria 59 (2005) pp. 153-167. Available at:
http://journals.sfu.ca/archivar/index.php/archivaria/article/view/12506/13632
Beagrie, Neil, Maggie Jones, and the Digital Preservation Coalition. The Handbook. Heslington,
York, United Kingdom: The Digital Preservation Coalition, 2007. Available at:
www.dpconline.org/advice/preservationhandbook
Owens, Trevor. “Archivematica and the Open Source Mindset for Digital Preservation Systems.”
The Signal (October 16, 2012). Available at:
http://blogs.loc.gov/digitalpreservation/2012/10/archivematica-and-the-open-source-mindset-fordigital-preservation-systems/
Recommended Supplemental Readings:
Changing Landscape of Archival Work
The Society of American Archivists. Guidelines for a Graduate Program in Archival Studies.
Chicago, Ill.: The Society of American Archivists, 2002. Section II. Curriculum- B.1
“Interdisciplinary Knowledge-Information Technology.” Available at:
http://www2.archivists.org/gpas
Pearce-Moses, Richard. “Reconceptualizing and Reengineering the Archival Profession.”
Archival Outlook (January/February 2006): 3 and 23. Available at
http://files.archivists.org/periodicals/Archival-Outlook/Back-Issues/2006-1-AO.pdf
Pearce-Moses, Richard. “New Skills, New Knowledge, and New Attitudes for a Digital Era.”
Archival Outlook (July/August 2006): 3 and 24. Available at:
http://files.archivists.org/periodicals/Archival-Outlook/Back-Issues/2006-2-AO.pdf
Brown, Thomas E. “Towards the Appraisal of Web Records.” Archival Outlook (July/August
2006): 6 and 25. Available at: http://www.archivists.org/periodicals/ao.asp
Fields, Leslie. “Wikipedia Edit-a-Thons.” Archival Outlook (March/April 2014): 4-5. Available at:
http://www.archivists.org/periodicals/ao.asp
Koltun, Lilly. “The Promise and Threat of Digital Options in an Archival Age.” Archivaria 47
(1999) pp.114-135. Available at:
http://journals.sfu.ca/archivar/index.php/archivaria/article/view/12700/13874
Kula, Sam. “Optical Memories: Archival Storage System of the Future, or More Pie in the Sky?”
Archivaria 4 (1977) pp.43-48. Available at:
http://journals.sfu.ca/archivar/index.php/archivaria/article/view/10509/11351
Web Design, Accessibility and Usability for Archival Users
Bates, Marcia J. “Toward an Integrated Model of Information Seeking and Searching.” Keynote
address, The Fourth International Conference on Information Needs, Seeking and Use in
Different Contexts, Lisbon, Portugal, September 11-13, 2002. Available at:
http://www.gseis.ucla.edu/faculty/bates/articles/info_SeekSearch-i-030329.html
Carey, Kevin. “Accessibility: The Current Situation and New Directions.” Ariadne 44 (July 2005).
Available at: http://www.ariadne.ac.uk/issue44/carey/
Duff, Wendy, Barbara Craig and Joan Cherry. “Historians’ Use of Archival Sources: Promises
and Pitfalls of the Digital Age,” The Public Historian 22, no.2 (Spring 2004):pp.7-22. Available at:
http://caliber.ucpress.net/doi/pdf/10.1525/tph.2004.26.2.7
Nielsen, J, “Usability 101: Fundamentals and Definition - What, Why, How”. Available at:
http://www.useit.com/alertbox/20030825.html
UKOLN, Good Practice Guide for Developers of Cultural Heritage Web Services. Available at:
http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/interop-focus/gpg/print-all/
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. “Usability.gov: Your Guide for Developing
Usable and Useful Web Sites.” Available at: http://www.usability.gov/
World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI). Available at:
http://www.w3.org/WAI/
Software Development Lifecycle
Nazzaro, William and Charles Suscheck. “New to User Stories?” Scrum Alliance. April 2010.
Available at: https://www.scrumalliance.org/community/articles/2010/april/new-to-user-stories
Digitization
JISC Digital Media “Project Management for a Digitisation Project.” (Updated November 2008).
Available at: http://www.jiscdigitalmedia.ac.uk/crossmedia/advice/project-management-for-adigitisation-project/
Chassanoff, Alexandra. “Historians and the Use of Primary Source Materials in the Digital Age.”
American Archivist 76 (Fall/Winter 2013) pp.458-480.
Christen, Kimberly. “Opening Archives: Respectful Repatriation.” American Archivist 74
(Spring/Summer 2011) pp.185-210. Available at:
http://archivists.metapress.com/content/4233nv6nv6428521/fulltext.pdf
Mole, Dennis. “The Video Disc Project: An Update.” Archivaria 16 (1983) pp.181-182. Available
at: http://journals.sfu.ca/archivar/index.php/archivaria/article/view/12670/13835
Digital Preservation
Dingwall, Glenn et al. “From Data to Records: Preserving the Geographic Information System of
the City of Vancouver.” Archivaria 64 (Fall 2007) pp.181-198. Available at:
http://archivists.metapress.com/content/h56018515230417v/fulltext.pdf
Sleeman, Patricia. “It's Public Knowledge: The National Digital Archive of Datasets.” Archivaria
58 (2004) pp. 173-200. Available at:
http://journals.sfu.ca/archivar/index.php/archivaria/article/view/12483/13600
Capell, Laura. “Digitization as a Preservation Method for Damaged Acetate Negatives: A Case
Study.” American Archivist 73 (Spring/Summer 2010) pp.235-249. Available at:
http://archivists.metapress.com/content/x381802g137421h3/fulltext.pdf
Research Libraries Group (RLG)-Online Computer Library Centre (OCLC). Trusted Digital
Repositories: Attributes and Responsibilities. An RLG-OCLC Report. Mountain View, Calif.:
RLG, May 2002. Available at:
http://www.oclc.org/programs/ourwork/past/trustedrep/repositories.pdf
Clareson, Tom. “NEDCC Survey and Colloquium Explore Digitization and Digital Preservation
Policies and Practices.” RLG DigiNews 10, no.1 (February 15, 2006). Available at:
http://worldcat.org:80/arcviewer/1/OCC/2007/07/10/0000068991/viewer/file1.html#article1
Duranti, Luciana, Eastwood, Terry, and Heather MacNeil. “The Preservation of the Integrity of
Electronic Records (UBC Project).” April 1994-March 1997. Available at:
http://www.interpares.org/UBCProject/Index.htm
Cornell University Library. Digital Preservation Management: Implementing Short-term
Strategies for Long-term Problems (2003-2007). Online Tutorial. Available at:
http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/dpm/dpm-eng/eng_index.html
Gill, Tony, Gilliland, Anne J., Woodley, Mary S., and Murtha Baca. Introduction to Metadata:
Pathways to Digital Information. Online Edition, Version 2.1. Los Angeles, Calif.: The J. Paul
Getty Trust, 1998-2006. Available at:
http://www.getty.edu/research/conducting_research/standards/intrometadata/index.html
International Standard Organization (ISO). Space Data and Information Transfer Systems:
Open Archival Information System Reference Model-ISO 14721:2003. Geneva: International
Standard Organization, 2003.
Rothenberg, Jeff. Avoiding Technological Quicksand: Finding a Viable Technical Foundation for
Digital Preservation. Washington, D.C.: Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR),
1998. Available at: http://www.clir.org/PUBS/reports/rothenberg/contents.html
Searle, Sam, and Dave Thompson. “Preservation Metadata: Pragmatic First Steps at the
National Library of New Zealand.” D-Lib Magazine 9, no. 4 (April 2003). Available at:
http://www.dlib.org/dlib/april03/thompson/04thompson.html
Simpson, Duncan. Contracting Out for Digital Preservation Services: Information Leaflet and
Checklist. Heslington, York, United Kingdom: The Digital Preservation Coalition, 2004. Available
at: http://www.dpconline.org/docs/guides/outsourcing.pdf. Last accessed: August 12, 2009.
Thibodeau, Kenneth, et al. “Preservation Task Force Report.” In InterPARES 1 Project. The
Longterm Preservation of Authentic Electronic Records: Findings of the InterPARES Project.
Vancouver, B.C.: University of British Columbia, 2001. Available at:
http://www.interpares.org/book/interpares_book_f_part3.pdf
Groot, Tamara, Horsman, Peter, and Rob Mildren. OSARIS: Functional Requirements for
Archival Description and Retrieval Software. First Draft-November 2003. Paris: International
Council on Archives, 2003. Available at:
http://www.archiefschool.nl/docs/Osaris%20Draft%20Requirements.pdf
International Council on Archives (ICA). Principles and Functional Requirements for Records in
Electronic Office Environments. Paris, France: International Council on Archives, 2008. Also
available in electronic format at: www.ica.org
Spiro, Lisa. Archival Management Software. A Report for the Council of Library and Information
Resources.” Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR), January 2009. Available at:
http://www.clir.org/pubs/reports/spiro2009.html
Course Schedule [subject to change]:
Date
Topics
Week 1 – Jan 5
 Introduction to Course
 Technology and the Changing
Landscape of Archival Work in the
21st Century
 HTML
Week 2 – Jan 12
 Student Archives Technology
Presentations
 User Experiences of Archival
Websites
 Website Design
 HTML, CSS
Week 3 – Jan 19
 Archival Functions and Technology
Week 4 – Jan 26
Week 5 – Feb 2
Week 6 – Feb 9
Feb 16 – Feb 20
Week 7 – Feb 23
Week 8 – Mar 2
Week 9 – Mar 9
Week 10 – Mar 16
Week 11 – Mar 23
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Introduction to Programming
Python(1)
HTML5
IT Concepts for the Archivist
IT Communication
Python(2)
Software Development Lifecycle
(SDLC) and the Archivist
 Archives/RM Software Basics
 Python(3)
READING WEEK
 Database Design
 ER Diagrams
 Python(4)
 Digitization
 Microsoft Access Basics
 Software guest speakers
 Access Queries
 SQL
 Access Forms
 SQL
 Python(5)
 Digital Preservation
Assignments
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Quiz 1
Archives Technology
Presentations
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Quiz 2
Website(1) Wireframes
Quiz 3
Website(2) HTML/CSS
pages
Quiz 4
Website(3) Audio/Video
content
Quiz 5
Website(4) Update
another team’s site
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Database(1)
Requirements and User
Stories
Quiz 6
Database(2) ER Diagram
Quiz 7
Database(3) Build
database
Quiz 8
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Quiz 9
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Python(6)
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Week 12 – Mar 30
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Student Software Presentations
Python(7)
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Week 13 - Apr 6
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Class wrap-up, outstanding issues,
questions, concerns, discussion
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Database(4) Queries,
forms, and reports
Quiz 10
Archival/RM Software
Presentations
Python assignment
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: All assignments will be marked using the evaluative criteria given on the SLAIS
web site.
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.
Access & Diversity: Access & Diversity works with the University to create an inclusive living
and learning environment in which all students can thrive. The University accommodates
students with disabilities who have registered with the Access and Diversity unit:
[http://www.students.ubc.ca/access/drc.cfm]. You must register with the Disability Resource
Centre to be granted special accommodations for any on-going conditions.
Religious Accommodation: The University accommodates students whose religious
obligations conflict with attendance, submitting assignments, or completing scheduled tests and
examinations. Please let your instructor know in advance, preferably in the first week of class, if
you will require any accommodation on these grounds. Students who plan to be absent for
varsity athletics, family obligations, or other similar commitments, cannot assume they will be
accommodated, and should discuss their commitments with the instructor before the course
drop date. UBC policy on Religious Holidays:
http://www.universitycounsel.ubc.ca/policies/policy65.pdf .
Academic Integrity
Plagiarism
The Faculty of Arts considers plagiarism to be the most serious academic offence that a student
can commit. Regardless of whether or not it was committed intentionally, plagiarism has serious
academic consequences and can result in expulsion from the university. Plagiarism involves the
improper use of somebody else's words or ideas in one's work.
It is your responsibility to make sure you fully understand what plagiarism is. Many students who
think they understand plagiarism do in fact commit what UBC calls “reckless plagiarism.” Below
is an excerpt on reckless plagiarism from UBC Faculty of Arts' leaflet, “Plagiarism Avoided:
Taking Responsibility for Your Work,” (http://www.arts.ubc.ca/arts-students/plagiarismavoided.html).
“The bulk of plagiarism falls into this category. Reckless plagiarism is often the result of careless
research, poor time management, and a lack of confidence in your own ability to think critically.
Examples of reckless plagiarism include:
Taking phrases, sentences, paragraphs, or statistical findings from a variety of sources and
piecing them together into an essay (piecemeal plagiarism);
Taking the words of another author and failing to note clearly that they are not your own. In
other words, you have not put a direct quotation within quotation marks;
Using statistical findings without acknowledging your source;
Taking another author's idea, without your own critical analysis, and failing to acknowledge
that this idea is not yours;
Paraphrasing (i.e. rewording or rearranging words so that your work resembles, but does not
copy, the original) without acknowledging your source;
Using footnotes or material quoted in other sources as if they were the results of your own
research; and
Submitting a piece of work with inaccurate text references, sloppy footnotes, or incomplete
source (bibliographic) information.”
Bear in mind that this is only one example of the different forms of plagiarism. Before preparing
for their written assignments, students are strongly encouraged to familiarize themselves with
the following sources on plagiarism: the Faculty of Art's online booklet on plagiarism at
http://www.arts.ubc.ca/artsstudents/plagiarism-avoided.html, the discussion of Academic
Integrity on http://www.arts.ubc.ca/faculty-amp-staff/resources/academic-integrity.html, and the
library's resources at http://learningcommons.ubc.ca/get-study-help/academicintegrity/#Research. This website includes helpful tutorials on how to avoid plagiarism.
If after reading these materials you still are unsure about how to properly use sources in your
work, please ask me for clarification.
Students are held responsible for knowing and following all University regulations regarding
academic dishonesty. If a student does not know how to properly cite a source or what
constitutes proper use of a source it is the student's personal responsibility to obtain the needed
information and to apply it within University guidelines and policies. If evidence of academic
dishonesty is found in a course assignment, previously submitted work in this course may be
reviewed for possible academic dishonesty and grades modified as appropriate. UBC policy
requires that all suspected cases of academic dishonesty must be forwarded to the Dean for
possible action.