Library, Archives and documentation services (LADS) is comprised of the library and archives, the Museum corporate documents and the artifact collections documentation.
Library and archives collections include books, periodicals, photographs, manuscripts, maps, laser discs, CDROM, videos, etc. These are related to the research areas of the Museum such as archaeology, ethnology, history and folklore. Artifact collections include all three-dimensional material culture objects. Their documentation maintains records which furnish information on the Museum’s object collections, including orders, requisitions, contracts, title agreements and acquisition committees minutes.
The common major functions of LADS include accessioning, registration and the integration of accumulated data into information systems, the processing of loans, new acquisitions, deaccessions and disposal. The role of the Division is to develop, document, manage, preserve the collections and facilitate access to users. It assists the Museum staff in its research needs and responds to requests from external users. It collects revenues for reproduction rights from certain parts of the collections.
General Objectives: Library and Archives perspective
The division will focus on providing:
- an overview of the procedures and tools used by librarians, archivists and researchers;
- participation in the organization of various media held in the Library and Archives collections;
- a working understanding of restriction and access to information.
Specific Learning Outcomes
These objectives will be reached through assigned tasks and projects which may include the following skills or procedures.
The intern may:
- use recognized procedures and tools used to carry out the acquisition, cataloguing and maintenance of the collections;
- organize information to make it accessible via manual or automated systems;
- implement basic classification and categorisation methods, including learning about automated systems available to small libraries;
- locate information using a variety of different media or systems;
- access the Internet and CATSS (the library catalogue database) to find specific research information;
- acquire basic knowledge of documents related to his/her community and culture;
- locate information dealing with native issues, and understand the importance of thorough research to support exhibit content;
- gain familiarity with access and restriction to material in terms of the Copyright and Privacy Acts;
- understand basic conservation requirements for archival material.
General Objectives: Artifact Collections Documentation & Processing
The division will focus on providing:
- an overview of methods and practices of artifact accessioning and registration, including relevant legislation and laws regarding title, rights, etc.;
- training in manual and online artifact search and retrieval techniques;
- instruction and practice regarding physical accessioning, including artifact numbering techniques.
Specific Learning Outcomes
These objectives will be reached through assigned tasks and projects which may include the following skills or procedures.
The intern may:
- accession and register incoming accessions using gift agreements, invoices, contracts, loan forms, acquisition sheets and other documentation;
- perform descriptive cataloguing of incoming artifact acquisitions, using material culture research and other reference material;
- enter registration/cataloguing data onto worksheets, spreadsheets and databases, giving accurate descriptions, and use hierarchical nomenclature in a variety of classification systems;
- apply data entry and terminology standards to improve retrieval;
- use artifact location inventory systems, as well as other means to locate objects;
- perform physical handling of objects to facilitate their accessioning which may include unpacking/packing, physical inventory and temporary storage;
- tag and physically number artifacts.