Syllabus:  Students studying the Pacific Islands in Australia have access to wonderful resources in Libraries, Archives, Art Galleries and Museums. 

This course aims to provide students with the essential skills they need for studying and researching Pacific Island topics. Through a series of lectures, seminars and field trips to local institutions the course will:

Provide students with an understanding and awareness of Pacific educational and research resources available in Australia and the region

Introduce students to the institutional provenance of Pacific collections

Provide students with skills for using primary and secondary sources for Pacific research, including information literacy

Develop cultural awareness of protocols, understanding and appreciation of consulting culturally sensitive Pacific resources

Introduce students to a range of record formats such as, material culture and art works, library and archive holdings, manuscripts, rare publications, ephemeral publications, oral histories, photograph collections, audio visual and micrographic materials, on-line and other digital materials

Instruction on production and preservation of digital and analogue research materials

At the end of this course students will have gained knowledge of: 

1. Pacific resources: Where to find Pacific resources held in Australia, the Pacific islands and the region.

2. Efficient and effective research: Research skills for using online catalogues, databases, primary and secondary sources for Pacific studies

3. Researching with respect: Ethics applying to research engagement with Pacific resources, including custom and protocols, application of cultural and intellectual property rights and copyright legislation

4. Filling in the information gaps: Identifying materials available for research topics

5. Understanding different forms of knowledge: Introduction to diverse and unique range of Pacific resource record formats

6. Practical experience: Field trip using resources accessible at institutions in Canberra.

Course assessment is based on the following:

1.         Attendance and participation (15%)

2.         Information literacy questionnaire (5%)

3.         Field trip report (10%)

4.         Annotated bibliography and critical review (20%)

5.         Comparative analysis of source materials (20%)

6.         Research proposal and presentation (30%)

A course brick containing tutorial and other key readings will be provided through Web CT. Student will also be required to explore online Pacific news resources and participate in information literacy sessions during class period.

Please read the following three chapters from Hunting the Collectors:  Pacific collections in Australian Museums, art galleries and archives (2007).  Editors, Susan Cochrane and Max Quanchi. 

Introduction by Susan Cochrane and Max Quanchi

Chapter 15:  “Who is collecting Pacific Island Archives in Australia now?” by Ewan Maidment.

Chapter 16:  “The Pacific collections of the National Library of Australia; a reflection of national awareness and perception of the Pacific region”, by Susan Woodburn.

Chapter 17:  “Pacific collections in the National Museum of Australia” by David Kaus.