Amongst other matters, understanding the worth, construction, design, period, setting and location of a place is important whilst also recognising previous influences and directions that could have had an impact. Here, a bibliographic search can prove rewarding. In providing some direction to follow, COTAC aims to ensure that the overall structure of its UC School Learning Initiative can offer support through its Digital Bibliography. This is arranged and presented with reference to the 14 ICOMOS Education and Training Guidelines and with an intention of enhancing the content of COTAC’s Insight 2: The Need to be Aware of the Built Heritage.
The 14 ICOMOS Education and Training Guidelines (1993):
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a) Read a monument, ensemble or site and identify its emotional, cultural and use significance.
b) Understand the history and technology of monuments, ensembles or sites in order to define their identity, plan for their conservation, and interpret the results of this research.
g) Inspect and make reports intelligible to non-specialist readers of monuments, ensembles or sites, illustrated by graphic means such as sketches and photographs.
j) Recognize when advice must be sought and define the areas of need of study by different specialists, e.g. wall paintings, sculpture and objects of artistic and historical value, and/or studies of materials and systems.
k) Give expert advice on maintenance strategies, management policies and the policy framework for environmental protection and preservation of monuments and their contents, and sites.
n) Be able to work with inhabitants, administrators and planners to resolve conflicts and to develop conservation strategies appropriate to local needs, abilities and resources.