Electronic textbooks for studying of the archival sciences

Electronic textbooks for studying of
the archival sciences and
diplomatics at the Faculty of
Humanities of Ústí nad Labem
(Czech Republic)
Ludmila Sulitková

• Applying new technologies leads into the
changing paradigm of archival science
• Should we think of two separated types of
archives in the future, the historical and
new ones?
• What methodology will be adequate in
the future in the care of historic archival
material and in relation to the newly-
formed electronic records and documents
(so called digital born documents)

• The major concepts or principles of the
archival work must remain in force even in the
future
• The credibility of archives as specific
institutions must be the same in the so called
electronic era
• The focus must be nowadays laid not only on
the classical sources but also on the the
variety of digital objects

• The impetus for me to prepare the
textbooks for students were the ENArC
projects and also our internal projects
supporting the creation of online learning
materials for students
• The first textbook is focused on
diplomatics, and first of all on the
development of editorial work related to
official documents in our country since the
19th century

• The second textbook which I will present
more deeply is aimed at archival science –
ff.ujep.cz/archivnictvi
• While the second chapter of this textbook is
devoted to the historical development of
archival materials of all kinds, it can be also
considered as a instruction of how to work
with historical sources and as an introduction
to the methodics of diplomatics as well
• Therefore, the first mentioned texbook is
interconnected with the second one using the
appropriate links

• In the preparation of the second textbook on
archival science I had in mind four principal
factors:
• 1) it is not possible to describe the
development in one country without a
respect to the situation in broader Europe
• 2) that the archivïstics is now widely
recognized as an independent discipline but
that it is a composed, for the most part
applied discipline which is unimaginable
without knowing more relevant disciplines
(history and historical auxiliary sciences,
administrative and legal sciences and for new
materials of course also informatics)

• 3) that it is necessary to explain to the students in
concise form the main accents of our specialized
archival legislation, which is undergoing in recent
years rapid development (the new archival act,
containing also a part devoted to the records
management, was adopted in the Czech Republic in
2004 and since that year was not only the Act, but
also the related Decrees repeatedly updated, most
recently and significantly in 2014 - in relation to
electronic documents and to the generally
expanding e-Government)
• 4) that students need to be familiar in various
parts of the textbook not only with all titles of
relevant printed literature, but also with a reliable
online sources

• What is new and well evaluated by the students
and can be underlined:
• The textbook contains a number of necessary
links to websites where they may obtain more
appropriate and detailed information
• The attention to the latest valid archival
legislation which came in ČR into force in 2014

• The respect to the new technologies and to
the work with electronic documents (on two
chapters dealing with the specifics of
working with them participated an
experienced archivist, Radek Pokorny, the
Director of the State District Archives in
Hradec Králové and the teacher at the local
university)

• The textbook is therefore broadly divided into 9
chapters:
• Development of archives and their
institutionalization in the Czech lands (in the
European context – in the chapter there are also
highlighted the activities of the International
Council on Archives, of UNESCO, the chapter
provides basic information on the major
European and international archival journals ad.)
• Archival material (explanation is given, as I have
mentioned, in the context of the doctrine of
sources)

• Records Management (historical development
and current status reflected in the revised Act on
archiving and Records Management and in
special Decree which are in force since 2014)
• Archival theory and methodology (the
explanation follows the issue in a broader
historical context, it means, not only for our
country; for the situation in our country are
taken thoroughly into account the new basic
rules for the processing (or arrangement) of
archival material; under the concept of
“arrangement of archival records” shall be
understood along our tradition the classification,
breakdown and description of archival records

• Protection of archival documents and archival
legislation (prevention is also discussed and internal
archival legislation is ranked into a wider European
context)
• Theory of use of archival records (there is outlined
what for new possibilities can our archives offer by
using also the so called electronic reading-rooms
and what for various types of publicity our archives
prepare – publications, editions, professional
journals, lectures, exhibitions and so on)
• Archival technics (the functionality requirements of
specialized archive buildings in all respects are there
analyzed)

• Education of Archivists (the possibility of
specialized archival education are there
outlined in a broader historical context;
the chapter deals with the specifics of this
training not only for our country - and
therefore for the former monarchy and
Austria - but also for the German countries
and France)
• Selected biographies of archivists

Electronic textbooks for studying of the archival sciences

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