2025 Reading List
The Academy of Certified Archivists Examination Development Committee has compiled this reading list to assist in preparing for the 2025 Certification Examination. Studying the resources on this list increases the chance of success on the examination, but it does not guarantee a passing score. These resources represent the breadth of archival literature with the goal for you to gain knowledge in all domains. It is not expected that a candidate will thoroughly read all the resources; many examination candidates found it helpful to focus on areas in which they had less knowledge or experience.
The EDC recognizes that the availability of resources varies by individual. Some resources are open access, and links are included when available. Some resources can be requested through interlibrary loan at a public library or by going to a nearby academic library. Some public libraries have options for distance database access and shipping books to your home; this may be useful for candidates without a public or academic library nearby. Joining or forming a study group is also a way to share resources. If you have suggestions or find open-access resources, please email examdevelopment@certifiedarchivists.org to be considered for future versions of the reading list. ACA thanks the Society of American Archivists and contributing institutions to the HathiTrust who continue to make resources available.
About the Sources
The EDC reviews the reading list annually to update it with recent publications and remove outdated sources. Questions (for all domains) come directly from the literature, though it is not a 1:1 correlation—meaning there may be one or more questions from a specific article or book, and there may be readings for which there are no questions on the examination for any given year. This is purposeful, as one of the goals of the reading list is to encourage examination candidates to broaden their knowledge about all areas of the profession.
How the EDC gathers sources:
- reading/assessing books and articles
- surveying textbooks used in master’s degree programs
- reviewing citations from the Dictionary of Archives Terminology
- looking at publishers’ websites for new titles
How the EDC selects sources for inclusion:
- provide theoretical and practical standards that apply across the profession
- cover topics outlined in the Role Delineation Statement
- are readily available via libraries, purchase, or open access
The examination covers archival practice in the United States; thus, publications have primarily been written in the English language and published in the United States.
A PDF of the reading list is available here and on the Resources menu.
Articles
| Citation | General | Domain 1 | Domain 2 | Domain 3 | Domain 4 | Domain 5 | Domain 6 | Domain 7 | Domain 8 | Open Access |
| Caswell, Michelle. "Teaching to Dismantle White Supremacy in Archives." The Library Quarterly 87, no. 3 (2017): 222–235. | X | Available online | ||||||||
| Arroyo-Ramírez, Elvia, Jasmine Jones, Shannon O’Neill, and Holly A. Smith, eds. (2021). "An Introduction to Radical Empathy in Archival Practice." Special issue of Journal of Critical Library and Information Studies 3, no. 2 (2021). | X | Available online | ||||||||
| Caswell, Michelle, Marika Cifor, and Mario H. Ramirez. "‘To Suddenly Discover Yourself Existing’: Uncovering the Affective Impact of Community Archives." American Archivist 79, no. 1 (2016): 56–81. | X | X | Available online | |||||||
| Caswell, Michelle. "Dusting for Fingerprints: Introducing Feminist Standpoint Appraisal." Journal of Critical Library and Information Studies 3, no. 2 (2022). | X | X | Available online | |||||||
| Engseth, Ellen. "Cultural Competency: A Framework for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in the Archival Profession in the United States. American Archivist 81, no. 2 (2018): 460–482. | X | Available online | ||||||||
| Gilliland, Anne J., and Sue McKemmish. "The Role of Participatory Archives in Furthering Human Rights, Reconciliation and Recovery." Atlanti: Review for Modern Archival Theory and Practice 24 (2014): 78–88. | X | X | Available online | |||||||
| Greene, Mark A., and Dennis Meissner. "More Product, Less Process: Revamping Traditional Archival Processing." American Archivist 68, no. 2 (2005): 208-263. | X | Available online | ||||||||
| Greene, Mark A., and Dennis Meissner. "MPLP: It’s Not Just for Processing Anymore." American Archivist 73, no. 1 (2010): 175–203. | X | X | Available online | |||||||
| Northeast Document Conservation Center (NEDCC). Preservation Leaflets.
1. Planning and Prioritizing; 3. Emergency Management |
X | Available on NEDCC website | ||||||||
| Mallea, Claudia A. "Using Metadata to Mitigate the Risks of Digitizing Archival Photographs of Violence and Oppression." Journal of Contemporary Archival Studies 10, no. 1 (2023): Article 14. | X | Available online | ||||||||
| Christen, Kim, Josiah Blackeagle Pinkham, Cordelia Hooee, and Amelia Wilson. "Always Coming Home: Territories of Relation and Reparative Archives." Archivaria 94 (Fall/Winter 2022): 24–62. | X | Available online | ||||||||
| Underhill, Karen J. "Protocols for Native American Archival Materials." RBM: A Journal of Rare Books, Manuscripts, and Cultural Heritage 7, no. 2 (2006): 134–145. | X | X | Available online |
Books
| Citation | General | Domain 1 | Domain 2 | Domain 3 | Domain 4 | Domain 5 | Domain 6 | Domain 7 | Domain 8 | Open Access |
| Behrnd-Klodt, Menzi and Peter J. Wosh. Privacy and Confidentiality Perspectives: Archivists and Archival Records. Chicago: Society of American Archivists, 2005. | X | |||||||||
| Behrnd-Klodt, Menzi. Navigating Legal Issues in Archives. Chicago: Society of American Archivists, 2008. | X | X | X | |||||||
| Boles, Frank. Selecting and Appraising Archives and Manuscripts. Archival Fundamentals Series II. Chicago: Society of American Archivists, 2005. | X | |||||||||
| Caldera, Mary A., and Kathryn M. Neal, eds. Through the Archival Looking Glass: A Reader on Diversity and Inclusion. Chicago: Society of American Archivists, 2014. | X | X | ||||||||
| Cline, Scott. Archival Virtue: Relationship, Obligation, and the Just Archives. Chicago: Society of American Archivists, 2021. | X | X | X | |||||||
| Cocciolo, Anthony. Moving Image and Sound Collections for Archivists. Chicago: Society of American Archivists, 2018. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | |||
| Crummé, Hannah Leah, ed. Building Representative Community Archives: Inclusive Strategies in Practice. Chicago: ALA Neal-Schuman, 2024. | X | |||||||||
| Danielson, Elena S. The Ethical Archivist. Chicago: Society of American Archivists, 2010. | X | |||||||||
| DeRidder, Jody L. Digital Curation Fundamentals. Rowman & Littlefield, 2018. | X | |||||||||
| Digital Preservation Coalition. Digital Preservation Handbook, 2nd edition, 2015. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | Available online | ||
| Gottlieb, Peter, and David Carmicheal, eds. Leadership and Management of Archival Programsd. Archival Fundamentals Series III. Chicago: Society of American Archivists, 2019. | X | |||||||||
| Hackbart-Dean, Pam, and Elizabeth Slomba. How to Manage Processing in Archives and Special Collections. Chicago: Society of American Archivists, 2012. | X | X | X | |||||||
| Harvey, Ross, and Martha R. Mahard. Revised by Donia Conn. The Preservation Management Handbook: A 21st Century Guide for Libraries, Archives, and Museums, 2nd edition. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield, 2020. | X | |||||||||
| Hirtle, Peter, Emily Hudson, and Andrew T. Kenyon. Copyright and Cultural Institutions: Guidelines for Digitization for U.S. Libraries, Archives and Museums. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Library, 2009. | X | X | Available online | |||||||
| Hunter, Gregory S. Developing and Maintaining Practical Archives: A How-To-Do-It Manual, 3rd edition. New York: Neal-Schuman, 2020. | X | X | ||||||||
| Jackson, Laura Uglean, ed. Reappraisal and Deaccessioning in Archives and Special Collections. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield, 2019. | X | |||||||||
| Joffrion, Elizabeth, and Michèle Valerie Cloonan. Advancing Preservation for Archives and Manuscripts. Archival Fundamentals Series III. Chicago: Society of American Archivists, 2020. | X | |||||||||
| Lacher-Feldman, Jessica. Exhibits in Archives and Special Collections Libraries. Chicago: Society of American Archivists, 2013. | X | |||||||||
| Lowell, Waverly B., and Tawny Ryan Nelb. Architectural Records: Managing Design and Construction Records. Chicago: Society of American Archivists, 2006. | X | X | X | X | ||||||
| Meissner, Dennis. Arranging and Describing Archives and Manuscripts. Archival Fundamentals Series III. Chicago: Society of American Archivists, 2019. | X | |||||||||
| Milano, Nicole, and Christopher J. Prom, eds. Engagement in the Digital Era. Trends in Archives Practice Series. Chicago: Society of American Archivists, 2020. | X | |||||||||
| O’Toole, James M., and Richard J. Cox. Understanding Archives and Manuscripts. Archival Fundamentals Series II. Chicago: Society of American Archivists, 2006. | X | |||||||||
| Oestreicher, Cheryl. Reference and Access for Archives and Manuscripts. Archival Fundamentals Series III. Chicago: Society of American Archivists, 2020. | X | X | X | |||||||
| Pacifico, Michele F., and Thomas P. Wilsted. Archival and Special Collections Facilities: Guidelines for Archivists, Librarians, Architects, and Engineers. Chicago: Society of American Archivists, 2009. | X | X | ||||||||
| Prom, Christopher J., and Lisa Janicke Hinchliffe, eds. Teaching with Primary Sources. Trends in Archives Practice Series. Chicago: Society of American Archivists, 2016. | X | |||||||||
| Prom, Christopher J., ed. Digital Preservation Essentials. Trends in Archives Practice Series. Chicago: Society of American Archivists, 2016. | X | X | X | |||||||
| Purcell, Aaron, ed. The Digital Archives Handbook: A Guide to Creation, Management, and Preservation. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield, 2019. | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||
| Purcell, Aaron. Donors and Archives: A Guidebook for Successful Programs. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield, 2015. | X | X | ||||||||
| Ritzenthaler, Mary. Preserving Archives and Manuscripts. Archival Fundamentals Series II. Chicago: Society of American Archivists, 2010. | X | |||||||||
| Roe, Kathleen. Advocacy and Awareness for Archivists. Archival Fundamentals Series III. Chicago: Society of American Archivists, 2019. | X | |||||||||
| Santamaria, Daniel A. Extensible Processing for Archives and Special Collections: Reducing Processing Backlogs. Chicago: American Library Association, 2015. | X | |||||||||
| Shallcross, Michael J., and Christopher J. Prom, eds. Appraisal and Acquisition Strategies. Trends in Archives Practice Series. Chicago: Society of American Archivists, 2016. | X | |||||||||
| Slate, John H., and Kaye Lanning Minchew. Managing Local Government Archives. Lanham, MD: Rowan & Littlefield, 2016. | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||
| Trinkaus-Randall, Gregor. Protecting Your Collections: A Manual of Archival Security. Chicago: Society of American Archivists, 1995. | X | X | Available on HathiTrust | |||||||
| Yun, Audra Eagle, ed. Archival Accessioning. Chicago: Society of American Archivists, 2021. | X | X | ||||||||
| Zamon, Christina. Alone in the Stacks: Succeeding as a Solo Archivist. Chicago: Society of American Archivists, 2024. | X | X | X | X | X | X |