Library Science Archives and Special Collections 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which preservation strategy involves creating an exact bit-for-bit copy of a digital file to ensure its long-term survival?
- Emulation
- Migration
- Replication (Correct answer)
- Normalization
Correct answer: Replication
Replication involves creating multiple identical bit-level copies stored in different locations to guard against data loss from hardware failure or disaster.
Question 2: The term 'appraisal' in archival science refers to:
- Estimating the monetary value of a collection for insurance purposes
- Determining which records have sufficient historical value to be permanently retained (Correct answer)
- Evaluating the physical condition of materials before conservation treatment
- Assessing researcher demand for a particular collection
Correct answer: Determining which records have sufficient historical value to be permanently retained
Archival appraisal is the process of determining which records hold long-term value and should be permanently preserved, versus which may be destroyed after their administrative usefulness ends.
Question 3: What is 'deaccessioning' in the context of special collections?
- Adding newly donated materials to a collection
- Removing items from a collection's official holdings (Correct answer)
- Scanning fragile documents for digital preservation
- Transferring records to an off-site storage facility
Correct answer: Removing items from a collection's official holdings
Deaccessioning is the formal process of removing items from a library or archive's permanent holdings, often followed by transfer, sale, or disposal.
Question 4: Which environmental conditions are most critical to maintain in a repository storing paper-based archival collections?
- High temperature and high humidity to keep paper flexible
- Stable, cool temperature and low relative humidity (Correct answer)
- Variable temperature with high air circulation
- Room temperature with no humidity control required
Correct answer: Stable, cool temperature and low relative humidity
Paper-based materials deteriorate most slowly in stable, cool temperatures (around 60–65°F) and low relative humidity (30–40%), which slow chemical degradation and inhibit mold growth.
Question 5: What is a 'deed of gift' in the context of archival acquisitions?
- A government mandate requiring donations to public archives
- A legal agreement transferring ownership or custody of materials to a repository (Correct answer)
- An appraisal document listing the monetary value of donated items
- A catalog record for newly accessioned materials
Correct answer: A legal agreement transferring ownership or custody of materials to a repository
A deed of gift is a legal document in which a donor transfers ownership or custody of materials to an archival repository, and which may specify restrictions on use or access.
Question 6: The Open Archival Information System (OAIS) reference model was developed to guide:
- Interlibrary loan procedures for rare books
- Digital preservation practices and systems (Correct answer)
- Cataloging standards for audiovisual materials
- Reading room access policies for researchers
Correct answer: Digital preservation practices and systems
The OAIS reference model (ISO 14721) provides a framework for designing and operating archival systems that can preserve and provide long-term access to digital information.
Question 7: Which of the following best describes 'born-digital' records?
- Printed documents that have been scanned into digital format
- Records that were created in digital form and never existed in analog format (Correct answer)
- Microfilm converted to digital files using OCR technology
- Handwritten manuscripts photographed and stored on a server
Correct answer: Records that were created in digital form and never existed in analog format
Born-digital records are those created and used in digital form from their origin, such as emails, word-processed documents, or databases, as opposed to digitized analog originals.
