MUS 204 PRESERVATION AND CONSERVATION - 2007
AIMS:
1. Understanding of issues involved in providing access to information materials
while maintaining those materials of long-term value, including established priorities
and developing effective solutions to preservation problems.
2. To develop an understanding of the major causes of deterioration of archival
materials.
3. To identify the major components of a preservation program.
4. To become familiar with information resources on archival preservation.
5. To build an understanding of the options and strategies for preserving library and
archival collections.
6. To enable students to apply their knowledge of preservation issues to practical
situations in libraries, archives and/or museums.
CONTENT
Introduction: the context of preservation and conservation in documentation centres
Causes of damage to records
Technology and structure of documentary materials
The protection and care of documentary materials
Environmental dangers and protection of records from such dangers
Storage materials
Preservation planning and collection surveying
Choice of preservation methods and reformatting
Issues in physical treatment
Conservation equipment
Building and equipment for conservation of documents in tropical countries
Disaster preparedness:
▀ Planning
▀ Equipment
▀ Recovery
Standards
Preservation policy
Reprography
▀ Reproduction of documents
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▀ Photography
▀ Micrography
▀ Xerography
▀ Reprographic equipment
▀ Reading equipment
Audio-visual materials
Types
▀ Films
▀ Microforms
▀ Still pictures
▀ Audio-materials
▀ Audio-visual equipment
▀ Preservation of Audio-visual materials
▀ Access to audio-visual materials
▀ Copyright
Assessment
2 assignments, 2 presentations 1x 3hr exam
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LIST OF RECOMMENDED SOURCES
Bradsher, J.M. (ed.). 1988. Managing archives and archival institutions. London:
Mansell Publishing.
Cook, M. 1977. Archives administration. Folkstone: Gent.
Ellis, J. 1993. Keeping archives. 2nd ed. Port Melbourne: The Australian Society of
Archivists.
Moyo, C. 2002. Preservation vs. access: the user and archives. ESARBICA Journal
21: 105-114.
Ngulube, P. 2002. Preservation reformatting strategies in selected Sub-Saharan
African archival institutions. African Journal of Library, Archives and Information
Science 12 (20; 117 – 132.
Selected Web Resources
International Records Management Trust (IRMT). 1999. The management of Public
Sector Records. Available:
http://www.irmt.org/downloadlist/education.html (A must read for information
professionals)
National Archives of Australia. Available:
http://www.naa.gov.au.
Public Record Office. Available:
http://www.pro.gov.uk
UNESCO RAMP STUDIES. Available:
http://www.unesco.org/webworld/portal_archives/ramp_studies_list.html
ESSAY TOPICS (25%) 5-10 pages including the bibliography (Choose two
questions)
Instructions:
a) All assignments should have a bibliography that conforms to the author-date
format (Harvard style).
b) Assignments should have at least TWO authoritative sources from the World
Wide Web.
c) The written essay will account for 20% of the assignment mark and 5% will be
for class presentation.
d) Students are required to demonstrate ability to:
- integrate concepts covered in class and readings
- think abstractly, logically, critically and ethically about issues
- analyse problems objectively
- identify needs
- meet goals
- formulate original and creative solutions and communicate clearly and concisely.
e) The assignment must make an argument, prove a point, assert a proposition or
build a model. You must demonstrate your understanding of the extant literature as
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it relates to the topic or problem you define and you must make an original
contribution to the literature by articulating an analysis that goes beyond the scope
of current thinking.
1 Assess the importance of archival legislation.
2. Justify the importance of preservation standards in archival institutions.
3. Identify and discuss problems associated with preservation of archival collections.
4. Trace and explain scientific and technical research findings on archival
preservation.
5. Compare and contrast microfilming and digitisation as document preservation
strategies.
6. Examine the view that preservation and access to archives are mutually dependent.
7. Explain how information and communication technologies challenge organizations’
capacities to manage and preserve electronic records.
8. Critically discuss the importance of a disaster management plan to an organization.
Thus says the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel:
Take these deeds, both this sealed deed of purchase and this open deed
and put them in an earthenware vessel, that they may last for a long
time.
………………..Jeremiah 32:14
Oxford Annotated Bible 1977
F. GARABA
202520139@ukzn.ac.za or garabaf@msu.ac.zw
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