Preservation and Disaster Management module (RM50018)

You will develop your understanding of the collections that you work with. This will cover the role that a recordkeeper can play in ensuring the safeguarding of the archives. You will also learn how to prepare and respond to threats to the collections.

Working across formats, you will look at the role of preservation and collection care. This will be in terms of the conditions that archives are stored in and potential threats to the records.

You will look at standards and how others effectively ensure the preservation of the collections that are in their custody.

You will look at how to identify and assess the risks to the collections in your care. You will also explore how an organisation can best prepare for the unexpected.

Throughout you will mix theory with practice and look at not just what we do but why we do it and how standards and practice can best be applied in practice.

What will you learn

In this module you will:

• be introduced to preservation and disaster management techniques, theory and practice in archives and records management
• provide in-depth examination of the key areas that should be considered when caring for records. You will also learn about preparing disaster management strategies
• facilitate understanding of how preservation and disaster management practices should be integrated into the overall management of collections

By the end of the module, you will be able to:

• have an advanced understanding of the role of preservation and disaster management techniques in archives and records management
• be able to identify threats to collections
• be able to identify strategies to mitigate threats to collections and protect and preserve records
• have a thorough knowledge of the standards and best practices. These will apply to preservation, conservation and emergency response measures
• be equipped with the knowledge necessary to implement preservation policy disaster recovery measures

Assignments / assessment

Coursework (100%) consisting of: 

• essay (30%)
• report (30%)
• assessed tasks (30%) 
• discussion board participation (10%) 

This module does not have a final exam.

Teaching methods / timetable

• independent study (100%)