Library Science Archives and Special Collections 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the primary purpose of a finding aid in an archival setting?
- To catalog items for purchase in a library
- To describe the contents and organization of an archival collection (Correct answer)
- To provide digital access to all archival materials
- To list books available for interlibrary loan
Correct answer: To describe the contents and organization of an archival collection
A finding aid describes the scope, content, and arrangement of an archival collection to help researchers locate relevant materials.
Question 2: Which of the following best defines 'provenance' as used in archival practice?
- The physical condition of archival documents
- The monetary value assigned to rare manuscripts
- The origin and history of custody of archival records (Correct answer)
- The subject classification of archival collections
Correct answer: The origin and history of custody of archival records
Provenance refers to the origin of records and the chain of custody, which is a foundational principle in archival science to maintain context and authenticity.
Question 3: What does the archival principle of 'respect des fonds' require?
- Keeping records from the same creator together as a unit (Correct answer)
- Translating foreign-language documents before cataloging
- Digitizing all rare materials within five years of acquisition
- Storing financial records separately from personal correspondence
Correct answer: Keeping records from the same creator together as a unit
Respect des fonds requires that records created by a single entity (a person, organization, or office) be kept together and not intermingled with records of other creators.
Question 4: Encoded Archival Description (EAD) is a standard used primarily for:
- Encoding digital images of manuscripts in archives
- Structuring finding aids in a machine-readable XML format (Correct answer)
- Cataloging audiovisual materials using MARC records
- Encoding preservation metadata for born-digital records
Correct answer: Structuring finding aids in a machine-readable XML format
EAD is an XML-based standard used to encode finding aids so they can be shared, searched, and displayed consistently across archival repositories.
Question 5: Which organization publishes 'Describing Archives: A Content Standard' (DACS)?
- American Library Association (ALA)
- Society of American Archivists (SAA) (Correct answer)
- Library of Congress (LC)
- National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)
Correct answer: Society of American Archivists (SAA)
DACS is published and maintained by the Society of American Archivists and provides rules for describing archival materials and their creators.
Question 6: In archival practice, what is 'original order'?
- The sequence in which materials were acquired by the repository
- The arrangement of records as they were maintained by the creating entity (Correct answer)
- The chronological order in which documents were digitized
- The order in which a researcher requested access to materials
Correct answer: The arrangement of records as they were maintained by the creating entity
Original order means preserving the arrangement of records as the creator kept them, because that arrangement reflects the context and relationships among records.
Question 7: What type of material is typically found in a 'special collections' department of a library?
- High-circulation paperback novels and textbooks
- Current periodical subscriptions and newspapers
- Rare books, manuscripts, photographs, and unique primary sources (Correct answer)
- Reference databases and e-journal bundles
Correct answer: Rare books, manuscripts, photographs, and unique primary sources
Special collections departments house rare, fragile, or unique materials such as rare books, handwritten manuscripts, historical photographs, and other primary source materials requiring controlled access.
Library Science Archives and Special Collections 1
What is the primary purpose of a finding aid in an archival setting?