Reference Services & Access Management Flashcards

Which standard provides the primary data structure for encoding archival finding aids in XML for online delivery?

Answer: Encoded Archival Description (EAD)

EAD is the XML-based standard maintained by SAA and the Library of Congress for encoding hierarchical archival finding aids.

When a researcher requests photocopies of restricted personnel files, the archivist's primary concern should be:

Answer: Balancing the researcher's right to access with the privacy rights of individuals named in the records

Privacy protections for living individuals and sometimes the recently deceased must be weighed against the research value and any applicable legal access rights.

In an archival context, 'reference statistics' are collected primarily to:

Answer: Justify budget requests and demonstrate institutional value

Reference statistics document usage patterns and institutional impact, supporting budget justification, strategic planning, and demonstrating the archives' value.

What is the correct archival term for the intellectual and physical control process that makes a new acquisition usable by researchers?

Answer: Processing

Processing encompasses arrangement, description, and creation of finding aids that allow researchers to identify and access the collection's contents.

Which approach guides archivists in prioritizing processing of large backlogs by focusing on making collections accessible at a basic level before adding detailed description?

Answer: More Product, Less Process (MPLP)

MPLP, developed by Greene and Meissner, advocates for baseline-level processing to open collections faster rather than exhaustive item-level description.

A researcher is denied access to records under a 50-year restriction that has now expired. The archivist's appropriate response is to:

Answer: Review and formally lift the restriction, then provide access if no other legal barriers exist

When donor- or policy-imposed time restrictions expire, archivists must formally review and remove them before providing access.