Domain 1 - Acquisition

# Certified Archivist Practice Questions

## Domain 1: Selection, Appraisal, and Acquisition (Tasks 8–16: Acquisition)

### 1. Which of the following actions best documents the acquisition process?

A. Deleting metadata for privacy

B. Posting an announcement on social media

C. Drafting oral histories of the donor

D. Recording appraisal decisions and completing accession records

Correct Answer: D

### 2. Retention schedules are used to:

A. Prioritize collections for digitization

B. Track researcher use

C. Determine how long records must be retained and when to dispose of them

D. Assign catalog numbers

Correct Answer: C

### 3. What does taking intellectual and physical custody of records involve?

A. Creating online exhibits

B. Conducting legal deposit inspections

C. Formally transferring materials into the repository’s control and documenting them

D. Sending acknowledgment emails to donors

Correct Answer: C

### 4. What is the benefit of cooperative acquisition strategies?

A. Avoiding copyright complications

B. Ensuring one repository collects all related records

C. Promoting shared stewardship and reducing duplication of effort

D. Minimizing public awareness of collection transfers

Correct Answer: C

### 5. Determining archive needs according to collection strategy helps to:

A. Standardize digitization formats

B. Evaluate subject gaps and collection priorities

C. Increase grant funding

D. Assign accession numbers

Correct Answer: B

### 6. What must be considered when importing digitized or born-digital assets into a content management system?

A. The number of staff on duty

B. The design of the reading room

C. Format compatibility, metadata schema, and long-term storage access

D. How much physical space is freed up

Correct Answer: C

### 7. Why is capturing metadata of digitized and born-digital assets important?

A. It replaces the need for appraisal

B. It allows you to avoid legal review

C. It enables searchability, context, and long-term management

D. It prevents donations from being rejected

Correct Answer: C

### 8. Which element is most important when negotiating a donation agreement?

A. How quickly materials can be digitized

B. Whether the donor prefers a private ceremony

C. Clarity regarding ownership, access restrictions, and intellectual property rights

D. Offering exclusive access to the donor’s family

Correct Answer: C

### 9. What must be verified when authorizing the purchase or transfer of a collection?

A. That the collection was stored in acid-free folders

B. That the seller includes an exhibit-ready item

C. That ownership rights are clear and legal instruments are properly executed

D. That the donor attends a signing event

Correct Answer: C