Within the framework of its training initiatives for members, the Sardinia section of ANAI organized a conference on the use of standards of archival description in Sardinia (“La descrizione archivistica: lo stato dell’arte in Sardegna. Esperienze a confronto”, 16 June 2005). The conference was held at the Società degli operai in Cagliari with the ANAI vice president Ferruccio Ferruzzi as coordinator. After the welcoming addresses by Carla Ferrante, president of the ANAI Sardinia section, and Marinella Ferrai Cocco Ortu, director of the Cagliari State Archives, Dolores Melis of the Cagliari Municipal Archives illustrated the work of description and digitization underway on the repository’s collection of cartographic and photographic material. Paolo Cau, director of the Sassari Municipal Archives, and his co-workers presented their ongoing projects, ranging from the 19th-century Pinzi classification scheme to the new form of archival management involving the use of modern technologies. Antonella Casula of the Oristano Municipal Archives focused above all on efforts to promote their sources by involving schools and organizing exhibitions and guided tours.

Francesca Desogus of the Ilbono Municipal Archives described the work of archival arrangement and promotion undertaken with particular reference to the problems faced by young archivists working as “external” personnel in small towns. Sandra Mereu of the cooperative La Memoria Storica presented a report on the application of international standards in projects of archival description with particular reference to the problems of creators. Maria Grazia Cadoni of the historical archives of the Banco della Sardegna and Francesca Desogus illustrated the results of work on the description and promotion of the bank’s important photographic collection.

In the afternoon session Cinzia Pittau of the Historical and Documental Archives of the Montevecchio Mine outlined the complex archival situation of mining companies and the difficulties of description presented by material highly varied in terms of typology and provenance.

Carla Ferrante of the Cagliari State Archives and Anna Castellino of the Archival Superintendency for Sardinia then illustrated the SIAS and SIUSA information systems of the Archives Administration as well as the descriptive typology and the general criteria underlying the two projects.

The meeting was attended by a large proportion of Sardinian archivists and proved a great success, a rare and precious opportunity to examine the highly varied aspects of the island’s archival situation and above all the various projects underway. As many of the speakers indicated, there is a constantly felt need for dialogue and collaboration.