2nd Edition

The Management of Information from Archives

By Michael Cook Copyright 1999
    288 Pages
    by Routledge

    288 Pages
    by Routledge

    This authoritative guide to the principles and practice of archives management in private and public sector organizations has been substantially revised. It now provides detailed advice on changes in national and international standards and approaches, in particular ISAD(G) (International Standard Archival Description) and ISASAR(CPF) (International Standard Archive Authority Record). The new edition also includes guidance on the interpretation of the Manual of Archival Description, also published by Gower. Michael Cook takes the reader through the history, definition and function of archives and archival services, international service models, staffing and resource issues. He explains how to set up and run a records management programme, manage the interface with archival management, conduct a records survey, set up retention schedules and organize appraisal, acquisition and disposal in a way which ensures the service meets organizational and individual needs. Chapters covering the arrangement, coding and description of archival material, and the administration of its physical storage, demonstrate how efficient management facilitates the accessibility of archival information. The book concludes with chapters on computing and user issues, such as rights of access, Freedom of Information, security and data protection standards. This key reference on best practice is intended for students and lecturers in archives administration and records management, and for archives and records managers, particularly those newly qualified or seeking professional registration. Managers without formal qualifications but responsible for records or archives management, and information managers working with archivists and records managers, will find it helps to improve working methods and to run a more effective archives service within the modern information management environment.

    Contents: Archival management in an information context; Archives services: their general nature, structure and function; Records management; Acquisition and archival appraisal; Archival arrangement; Archival description: general principles; The structure and form of data in archival descriptions; The organization of information in archival systems; Computing for archival management; Access and use: facilities and restrictions; Bibliography; Index.

    Biography

    Michael Cook is Senior Research Fellow of LUCAS (Liverpool University Centre for Archive Studies) and was, for many years, University Archivist and international consultant in Archives Studies. He is a well-known author of books and articles on archival practice and, with Margaret Procter, wrote the Manual of Archival Description, also published by Gower. He is a council member of the Society of Archivists, and a member of both the International Council on Archives and the Records Management Society.

    ’If you are a student preparing for your Master’s degree in Archive Records and Administration ... you can’t afford to miss this book ... this text is a comprehensive guide to the principals (sic) and practice of archives management. For working managers - even from outside Western countries - the parts of the book dealing with records management ... would help them in organising their work more effectively to provide better information management services.’ Managing Information ’For anyone embarking on a major documentation project, it should be essential reading.’ Journal of the Society of Archivists ’It is a significant achievement to have brought up-to-date and consolidated so much established knowledge in one volume, and for most areas or archive work, this book may well become the first point of future reference.’ Business Archives Principles and Practice ’This book will be best appreciated by students and lecturers in archive administration and records management ... useful in improving working methods and in running a more efficient archive service.’ Inform ’Michael Cook has a richly deserved reputation as a noted archivist, educator, and contributor to the literature of archival practice. This is the second edition of a standard treatise. The expectations of the reader are therefore high - and the author meets these expectations in providing an authoritative and a readable, text ... it is an excellent and readable text, providing definitions, references and a bibliography.’ Library Management