Tools for Archivists

New tools will be added here as they are developed. Suggestions welcome.

General Reference

• Archivist’s Toolkit – clearinghouse of links and resources for basic archival management, maintained by the Archives Association of British Columbia.
• A Manual for Small Archives – Archives Association of British Columbia
• Code of Ethics for Archivists in Canada – professional guidelines from the Association of Canadian Archivists.
• Dictionary of Archival Terminology – dictionary of terms drawn primarily from the professional literature in the United States and Canada, maintained by the Society of American Archivists.

Acquisition

• Accession form - downloadable sample includes fields and layout necessary for a complete accession record
• Archives Management Software Review Report - review of 6 programs to manage acquisition process
• Cooperative Acquisition Strategy – policy document for province-wide coordination of acquisition activities
• Deed of Gift - sample deed of gift needed to legally transfer archival documents from the donor to the archival institution

Advocacy

• Canadian Council of Archives – Resources
• ACA's Awareness and Advocacy Resource List
• Nova Scotia - Dept. of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage (2024)
• Finding Your Member of Parliament (federal)
• Directory of NS Legislative Assembly – lists members in alphabetical order by name
• Digital Engagement Framework – tools and worksheets for developing and implementing digital engagement strategies for your organization.

Appraisal

• Appraisal grid - some of the questions to be asked when considering a donation (rtf printable file)
• National Archival Appraisal Board – provides appraisal services for donations of archival records to Canadian cultural institutions

Archival Associations

• Association of Canadian Archivists
• Canadian Council of Archives – includes links to other provincial and territorial councils.
• International Council on Archives
• Society of American Archivists
• Association of Moving Image Archivists
• Association of Records Managers and Administrators (ARMA International) – Canadian Provinces

Conservators

• Canadian Association of Professional Conservators (CAPC-ACRP) – Find a Conservator

Copyright & Privacy

• Copyright Act – the official Canadian legislation and related regulations
• Creative Commons licensing regime – for non-commercial publication of works under copyright (requires copyright holder’s permission)
• Protection of Folklore by Copyright – UNESCO Copyright Policy 2015
• Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIPOP) – Nova Scotia Department of Justice
• Canadian Copyright Flowchart - University of Alberta

Description

• Archives Management Software Review Report -- review of 6 programs to create and manage finding aids
• RAD Work Sheet for Graphic Materials – help for describing photographs, artwork, etc
• RAD Work Sheet for Fonds Descriptions
  
• Writing the Administrative History

Digitization

• Digitization Tool-kit - websites, free tutorials, and books on managing digitization projects for an archives
• File Format Guidelines for Preservation and Long-term Access by Library and Archives Canada (LAC)
  
• Tips for Preserving CDs and DVDs
• Resources: Digitization and Archive – Canadian Council of Archives
• Creating and Managing Digital Content – “Capture Your Collections: Small Museum Version” is an excellent place to start.
• Digital Library Development – links provided by Best of the Web.
• Digitizing History: A Guide to Creating Digital Resources from Historical Documents – thorough overview for planning a digitization project from the UK, written in 1999 but still relevant.
• File Format Guidelines for Preservation and Long-term Access by Library and Archives Canada (LAC).
• Moving Theory Into Practice: Digital Imaging Tutorial – on-line tutorial from Cornell Library.
• Canadian and Nova Scotia Digital Collections Initiative
• PADI – Preserving Access to Digital Information subject gateway.
• TASI – Technical Advisory Service for Images

Fees

• Genealogy Services and Fees in Nova Scotia 2004 Survey Results

Genealogy

The Council of Nova Scotia Archives does not offer direct genealogical research services. However, we represent the network of archives in the province who do provide genealogical resources and services to the public. These services are outlined in the CNSA publication “Genealogy Source: Where to find Genealogical Information in Nova Scotia” [PDF]. More information is available from each member’s websites.

The MemoryNS database can provide genealogists information about original archival documents (e.g. church registers, family papers) and where they are located. It does not include indexes to individual archival documents, but rather groups of documents. Genealogical researchers will not find actual family trees, individuals’ vital statistic information, or cemetery entries.

If you are doing genealogical research, try visiting these sites:

• Genealogy and Family History
• Genealogical Association of Nova Scotia
• Genealogical Institute of the Maritimes
• Nova Scotia Archives
• Nova Scotia GenWeb Project
• Nova Scotia Historical Vital Statistics

Heritage Strategy

• CNSA's Brief to the Heritage Strategy Task Force, December 2005
• A Treasured Past, A Precious Future – Nova Scotia’s first provincial heritage strategy: [link to PDF]

Indexing

• Nova Scotia Subject Headings Authority - master list of search terms

Oral History

• Bruce Jackson, Fieldwork (Urbana & Chicago: Univeristy of Illinois Press, 1987).
• Edward D. Ives, The Tape Recorded Interview: A Manual for Field Workers in Folklore & Oral History (Knoxville: University of Tennessee Press, 1980).
• Folklife and Fieldwork: A Layman's Introduction to Field Techniques
  
• Documenting Maritime Folklife: An Introductory Guide by David A. Taylor, Library of Congress Washington 1992 Publications of the American Folklife Center, no. 17.
• Kenneth S. Goldstein, A Guide for Field Workers in Folklore (Hatboro, PA: Folklore Associates, 1964).
• Release Form - sample

Planning

• Membership Needs Assessment & Planning Study – Executive Summary
  
• Membership Needs Assessment & Planning Study – Full Report
  
• MNAPS – Survey Questionnaire for Institutional Members
  
• MNAPS – Survey Questionnaire for General Members

Preservation

• ANSI/NISO Standard – for Environmental Conditions for Exhibiting Library and Archival Materials
• Biological Infestations – Chapter 5 of US National Parks Service Museum Handbook
• Canadian Association of Professional Conservators CAPC / Association canadienne des restaurateurs professionnels ACRP – Directory includes Atlantic provinces.
• Canadian Conservation Institute – reliable preservation information from the experts, includes CCI Notes and Technical Bulletins.
• CCA Preservation Committee – preservation activities at the national level and source for preservation standards and publications.
• Collection Care at the British Library, includes links to publications from the National Preservation Office (UK).
• Conservation OnLine – full text library of conservation information, covering a wide spectrum of topics concerning library, archives and museum materials.
• Emergency Preparedness & Response from the California Preservation Clearinghouse.
• File Format Guidelines for Preservation and Long-term Access by Library and Archives Canada (LAC).
• Northeast Document Conservation Centre – provides an excellent on-line preservation course as well as technical information, advice and links to further resources.
• The Permanence and Care of Color Photographs by Henry Wilhelm – classic reference book, available for free download by chapter.

Suppliers

• Carr McLean – Canadian archival supplies. Contact our Archives Advisor for discounts available for CNSA members.
• University Products – American archival supplies.
• Light Impressions – American archival supplies.
• Where to Buy Archival Quality Materials Canadian Conservation Consortium
• See also Consultants above