Mainstreaming Archives: Changing Perceptions and Embedding Usage in Research and Teaching

Barry HoulihanArchivist, James Hardiman Library, NUI Galway

Changing Perceptions of What Archives Are:

Changing Perceptions of what Archival Research Can Offer . . .

Primary Research Skills

Critical & Independent Analysis

Sills

Transferable Graduate Attributes

Interdisciplinary / Digitally Engaged

Cycle of Engagement

Teaching and

Research

Archives(Digital/Material)

Reading-Room based

ExperientialLearning

Increasing Ongoing

Usage/Publication

Learning Through Outreach and Engagement:- New Plans and Methods

• Conferences• Exhibitions• Modules• Research• Publication• Partnerships

• Actively Creating and Managing Engagement

Teaching the Archive:New UG History Module

Assessment and Learning

Assignment 1Collection Assessment and Reflection 1,500 words - 40%

Assignment 2Essay – 8 Set TopicsBased on lecture topics and collection strengths2,500 words – 60%

Teaching the (Digital) Archive

• Meeting changing user expectations – exploring the point where ‘Hardiman Library’ meets ‘Digital Library’

• Archive literacy, digital literacy and pedagogical development

• Balance the focus between the material format and the digital content of the archive

• New opportunities to increase usage and integrate wider digital and non-digital collections into research

School Institute Name to go here

Managing the Digital Archive - What is Changing?

Archiv(es)/ists

Types of RecordsPlace of AccessMethods of PreservationMeans of ConservationEthics in AccessInterdisciplinary Research Collaborative Data Sharing

Users

ExpectationsInstant AccessSecureTotality of material (?)Commercially exploitableDigitally malleableMethods of Dissemination

James Hardiman Library

Archives Supporting Research

James Hardiman Library

Learning Through Encountering- Digital and Material Together

• Integration of mixed media sources

• Aware of varying levels of experience of each user group

• Material and digital together can enhance learning

• Developing the digital learner as well as the digital material

Archivist as Teacher:How to use, approach & understand archives

Archives Reading Room as continuation of the learning/research cycle:Lecture Room - > Assignments -> Reading Room/Archivist

1st question is always “What do you have ….”

Active role in teaching users HOW to research

James Hardiman Library

Being Visible in Research- Aiding Citations/User Friendly Usage

Exhibition: Yeats and The West June - Dec 2015

Digital and Material Exhibition

• Exhibition• Tours (Culture Night /

Summer Tourists)• Tours – Timetabled class

groups• Symposium• Publication

Conference: Performing the Archive22-24 July 2015

• Debating the Archive• Audience of

Archivists/Librarians/ Academics/Students/Artists

• Artistic Engagement• Growing networks &

meeting international peers

A Partner in Research“1916 – A Nation Rises”

Artistic Engagement – Arts (& Archives) in Action

Ritchie-Pickow Photographic Archive

- Annual ‘Ritchie’ Lecture

GMIT Graphic Design MA Student – Artistic Usage of the archive

Further Plans – Future Transitions

• Increase focus of embedded archives in teaching and developing ‘Academic Skills’ for Archives

• Increase UG module to other disciplines (English, Geography)• Develop PG Research version of Archives Module• Target Secondary School groups – future users – pre-empt the

transition• Training in digital archive literacy and discovery methodologies

– ‘smart searching’ and metadata managemet.

Thank You & Stay in Touch!

@Nuigarchives

http://www.library.nuigalway.ie/archives/