Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
Pages: 270
•
Trim: 6¼ x 9
978-1-5381-2237-2 • Hardback • February 2019 • $139.00 • (£107.00)
978-1-5381-2238-9 • Paperback • February 2019 • $62.00 • (£48.00)
978-1-5381-2239-6 • eBook • February 2019 • $58.50 • (£45.00)
Aaron D. Purcell is professor and director of special collections at Virginia Tech. He earned a Ph.D. in history from the University of Tennessee, a M.L.S. from the University of Maryland, College Park, and a M.A. in history from the University of Louisville. Purcell has also worked at the National Archives and Records Administration, the National Library of Medicine, and the University of Tennessee.
Introduction, by Aaron D. Purcell
Part I: Processes and Practices
Chapter 1: Acquisitions, Appraisal, and Arrangement
Lisa Calahan
Chapter 2: Description and Delivery
Dorothy Waugh
Chapter 3: Digital Preservation
Bertram Lyons
Chapter 4: Digital Forensics and Curation
Martin Gengenbach
Chapter 5: Contracts, Intellectual Property, and Privacy
Heather Briston
Part II: Collections and Environments
Chapter 6: Performing Arts Collections
Vincent J. Novara
Chapter 7: Oral History Collections
Douglas A. Boyd
Chapter 8: Architectural and Design Collections
Aliza Leventhal
Chapter 9: Congressional Collections
Danielle Emerling
Chapter 10: Email
Matthew Farrell
This collected volume, edited by Dr. Aaron D. Purcell, gathers contributions by archivists and librarians from across the US. In particular, the contributions gathered in the book—and specifically those in part two—provide a fascinating set of case studies, narrated from a first-person perspective, that could elucidate and ground in real-life examples concepts and material taught in archival and collection management courses. The Digital Archives Handbook will, and should, be read widely by archivists and librarians by whom and for whom it has been written.
— Journal Of Education For Library and Information Science
The goal of this book is to give archivists the tools and confidence to “overcome current challenges and chart paths that anticipate, rather than merely react to, future donations of digital archives” (p. xxiv). These records cannot wait for the ideal situation; archivists must act now by learning about the formats being acquired by their institutions, setting realistic policies and procedures, talking early and often with their donors about expectations and access, documenting the work so future archivists understand their choices and actions, staying abreast of new technologies and tools, and continuously advocating for resources. Archivists have learned to maintain analog collections without the benefit of ideal staffing, funding, or resources, and Purcell wants to empower them to handle digital materials in the same manner. Action is important, andThe Digital Archives Handbookprovides realistic solutions and a way to get started.
— The American Archivist
The Digital Archives Handbook is a great value to new professionals and experienced archivists alike. In ten chapters, leading practitioners share essential context, real-world experiences, and authoritative guidance on core archival functions, professional standards, and diverse content types. The clear and lucid explanation of the more technical aspects of digital archives will empower readers to tackle their own challenges.— Michael Shallcross, digital preservation librarian, Indiana University
A great donor and access-focused anthology on the fundamentals of managing digital materials, especially for those working in archives that collect from beyond their own institutions. The technical language is accessible and much of the content is scalable to archives of many sizes.— Arlene Schmuland, head, University of Alaska Anchorage Archives & Special Collections