The forthcoming Encyclopedia of Archival Science, edited by Dr. Patricia Franks of the San José State University (SJSU) School of Information and Luciana Duranti of the University of British Columbia, already promises to be an essential tool for practitioners in the field of archives and records management. The publication of the encyclopedia marks the first time a complete guide to the most important concepts, principles, and practices in archival science has been compiled for the use of students, faculty, and practitioners.

According to the publisher, the work reflects the scholarship of “leading luminaries” as well as “rising scholars,” and also includes “historical and ethical components of practice.” Franks, an associate professor at the SJSU School of Information and program coordinator of the iSchool’s Master in Archives and Records Administration (MARA) program, noted that “the number and quality of authors represented in the encyclopedia is unprecedented.” Two faculty members, two alumni, and one current student from the SJSU School of Information authored or co-authored 10 of the 154 entries in the groundbreaking work.

Lecturer Lori Lindberg drew on her experience as an archival consultant and with recordkeeping metadata to create the entries “Metadata” and “Recordkeeping Metadata” for the encyclopedia. Similarly, alumnus Matt Carmichael (MLIS 2013) drew on his work in digital preservation for The History Museum of Hood River County for his entry, “Digitization.”

Alumnus Mark Driskill (MARA 2014) contributed “Archival Policy” to the book. Driskill worked as a graduate student researcher for Franks while he was earning his master’s degree at SJSU, and is currently working as a freelance writer, editor, researcher, and consultant. His research and professional interests include informatics, information governance, corporate archives, and electronic information systems.

Current MARA student Lacey Ryan Banks co-authored the entry “Records Center” with Gianni Penzo Doria of the University of Isurbria inVarese, Italy. Banks is one of Franks’ graduate student researchers and is expected to graduate in May 2015.

In addition to co-editing the encyclopedia with Duranti, Franks also wrote five entries: “Disaster Plan,” “Information Governance,” “Records Management Standards,”  “Replevin,” and “Vital Records.” Franks is also the author of the 2013 text Records and Information Management.

The Encyclopedia of Archival Science will be released in June 2015 by Rowman & Littlefield.