Domain 8 - Cultural Competency

# Certified Archivist Practice Questions

## Domain 8: Cultural Competency (Tasks 1–11)

### 1. When identifying archival sources from diverse creators, archivists must:

A. Focus on donors with large collections

B. Avoid undocumented sources

C. Understand the context and significance of records from underrepresented individuals, communities, and organizations

D. Prioritize published materials only

Correct Answer: C

### 2. Describing culturally relevant materials requires:

A. Using traditional Library of Congress terms only

B. Omitting controversial language

C. Applying cultural sensitivities, traditional knowledge labels, and community protocols

D. Rewriting content for broader appeal

Correct Answer: C

### 3. Providing culturally sensitive access to underrepresented materials may involve:

A. Password-protecting all materials

B. Removing original language

C. Consulting with community members to guide respectful access

D. Locking materials indefinitely

Correct Answer: C

### 4. Legal instruments of transfer should reflect:

A. Financial terms only

B. Institutional ownership rights

C. Cultural protocols and community-determined procedures

D. Standardized federal forms only

Correct Answer: C

### 5. When evaluating potential acquisitions, archivists should:

A. Focus only on physical condition

B. Disregard donor preferences

C. Assess cultural value and potential restrictions

D. Reject anything without provenance

Correct Answer: C

### 6. Cooperative acquisition strategies should:

A. Centralize all authority with the archive

B. Ignore regional partners

C. Respect cultural ownership and involve collaboration

D. Eliminate the need for deeds of gift

Correct Answer: C

### 7. Accuracy in recording culturally significant events includes:

A. Rewriting historical context for clarity

B. Prioritizing institutional narratives

C. Capturing historical, linguistic, and cultural details with care and precision

D. Relying on existing metadata only

Correct Answer: C

### 8. Communicating archival significance to the public requires:

A. Posting materials on social media

B. Avoiding official review

C. Working with community members and public officials to highlight cultural and historical context

D. Creating marketing campaigns without input

Correct Answer: C

### 9. Networking with culturally knowledgeable individuals helps archivists:

A. Avoid writing historical essays

B. Correct institutional records only

C. Gather accurate oral histories, stories, and cultural content

D. Reduce need for internal training

Correct Answer: C

### 10. Archiving oral histories involves:

A. Creating transcripts only

B. Avoiding interviews for legal reasons

C. Recording verbal narratives with cultural care and community collaboration

D. Asking researchers to submit final versions

Correct Answer: C

### 11. Cultural awareness in instructional settings means:

A. Limiting discussion of sensitive topics

B. Avoiding community co-teaching

C. Integrating respectful engagement with community history and customs into presentations and programs

D. Focusing solely on Western methods

Correct Answer: C