Arhivski vjesnik, Vol. 51 No. 1, 2008.
Pregledni rad
How to make quality finding aids? Process of evaluation of finding aids in the practice of the State Archives in Pazin
Iva Grdinić
; Državni arhiv u Pazinu, Pazin, Hrvatska
Sažetak
The paper deals with a problem of quality of finding aids, based on the practice of the State Archives in Pazin in the period between 2002 and 2006. The question is raised How to make quality finding aids regardless of forms of their use, presuming need for maximum fulfillment of their potential capacity to provide information. Actions taken in order to raise the quality of finding aids are discussed in the context of presumption of the best practice. Based on the analysis of finding aids, some omissions related to typology are emphasized, partly generating from professional procedures of archival arrangement. The paper presents a concept of evaluation of finding aids and explains criteria and procedures on which the evaluation is based. The part of the paper involved in archival description presents basic and specific quality requirements. It also considers some of the most frequently identified deviations from the normative prescriptions (national archival legislative, international archival norms) and other established professional criteria, and offers proposals for their partial compensation. Finding aids in the form of archival lists are discussed concerning methods of creating information and forming data, with intention to achieve a maximum compliance with that type of finding aid, as well as a need to raise their usability regardless of context of their use.
The role of creator of finding aids is considered in the context of information system and specific working environment existing within the archive. The information system is identified as primal recipient of the information given by content of finding aid. The role of user is represented by examples of specific recipients, regarding on the type of information given within some of descriptive elements in ISAD(G).
The paper emphasizes a need for the systematic coordination and coherent documentation of procedures and practices related to the process of archival arrangement. The importance of professional planning and of defining management policy for documentation created in the process of arranging archival material is analyzed by giving examples concerning the consequences of their partial absence.
Ključne riječi
archival arrangement; archival description; finding aids; evaluation; archival competences; informational potential; usability; information recipients
Hrčak ID:
29488
URI
Datum izdavanja:
8.12.2008.
Posjeta: 2.294 *