Introduction to Archival Practice
Course duration: September 14 - November 23, 2026
Registration: June 1 - August 21, 2026
Using Laura Millar's award-winning publication Archives: Principles and Practices, students will be introduced to archival terminology & theory, best practices for managing archival records, copyright & privacy, ethics, and preserving electronic records. This course will benefit those who are new to archives, as well as staff or volunteers working in libraries, museums, records management, local government, administration, art galleries or non-profit institutions that have archival records in their holdings and would like to learn more about them.
Topics for the modules include:
Module 1. What are Archives
Module 2. Archival Institutions and the Role of the Archivist
Module 3. Fundamental Principles of Archives
Module 4. Appraisal and Acquisition
Module 5. Arrangement and Description
Module 6. Making Archives Available
Module 7. Preservation and the Digital World
Students will also receive, by electronic mail, a self-study guide which includes instructions, supplementary reading (where applicable), self-study questions, and in most modules, a practical project. The self-study questions and projects will be submitted to the Instructor for evaluation. Upon completing all the projects within the allotted time, students will receive a certificate of completion at the end of the course.
Students can expect to work about 10-12 hours per week on readings and assignments for the duration of the course.
Instructor: Lisa Glandt, AABC Education and Advisory Services Coordinator
Cost: AABC members $400.00 (CAD) / Non-member $575.00 (CAD); plus the cost of the course textbook
Textbook: Laura Millar. Archives: Principles and Practices (Neal-Schuman, 2nd ed.; 2017)
*Hard copy or electronic (ebook) versions of the course textbook are available.
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