Competency 2: Information Resources
INFO 5375: Final Term Paper, Fall 2022
For this project, we were to choose a topic or concept in archives and special collections and create a research poster.
I chose to conduct research on the concepts of deaccessioning and reappraisal in special collections and archives, focusing on overall trends and opinions on these practices, as well as the difference between them. While different, these two similar practices allow for repositories to permanently remove objects from their custody. First, materials are reappraised in order to determine if they are candidates for removal. If they are deemed to be eligible, they are then deaccessioned. While there has been debate about the necessity and legitimacy of deaccessioning, professionals largely agree that these processes are healthy for an information institution. By becoming familiar with these practices, I now understand additional "concepts, issues, and methods related to the management of various collections" as well as those "related to the acquisition and disposition of
resources" as both outlined in sections 2C and 2B of the ALA Core Competencies, respectively.
INFO 5000: Final Term Paper, Fall 2021
This project required us to write a research paper on a topic within the discipline, outlining current state of the issue.
Competency 2A requires that the individual show mastery of "(c)oncepts and issues related to the life cycle of recorded knowledge and information, from creation through various stages of use to disposition". 2B describes "(c)oncepts, issues, and methods related to the acquisition and disposition of resources, including evaluation, selection, purchasing, processing, storing, and de-selection".
For this essay I researched a fairly new topic within the information science discipline, blockchain technology. I outline the major contributing scholars as well as the benefits and issues of its implementation in the storage and access of information. Following a brief literature review, I outline several specific instances of implementation of blockchain in information systems and libraries including the concept of library cards with blockchain as well as with born-digital content. As blockchain technology has the ability to store and track changes in metadata, it has been shown to potentially greatly affect how we deal with information objects. This topic is timely, dealing with current issues that many information professionals are currently facing such as the spread of NFTs and bitcoin. I conclude that the general attitude of those in the discipline seems to lean toward cautious optimism.