CA Collection Development & Appraisal 3

Question 1

Which type of appraisal involves evaluating records at the series or collection level rather than item by item?

Accepted Answer

Aggregate appraisal

Answer

Aggregate appraisal evaluates groups of records together, making it more efficient than reviewing each item individually.

Question 2

In US archival practice, what does 'evidential value' refer to?

Accepted Answer

The value of records as evidence of the organization and functions of the creating body

Answer

Evidential value reflects how well records document the structure, policies, and activities of the creating agency, as defined by T.R. Schellenberg.

Question 3

Which factor would most strongly argue AGAINST accepting a collection during appraisal?

Accepted Answer

The collection duplicates holdings already well-documented in the repository

Answer

Unnecessary duplication wastes storage resources and dilutes the uniqueness of a repository's holdings without adding research value.

Question 4

What is the purpose of a 'retention schedule' in records management as it relates to archival appraisal?

Accepted Answer

To define how long records should be kept and whether they have permanent archival value

Answer

Retention schedules guide records managers in identifying which records warrant permanent preservation by the archives.

Question 5

A repository receives a collection with significant research value but no deed of gift. The archivist's best next step is to:

Accepted Answer

Contact the transferring party to execute a formal legal agreement before processing

Answer

Without a legal agreement, the repository's rights to hold, provide access to, or dispose of the materials are undefined, creating legal and ethical risk.

(CA) Certified Archivist Certification Practice Test

(CA) Certified Archivist Certification Practice Test

CA Collection Development & Appraisal 3