Managing Archives - Foundations, Principles and Practice

This book provides an up-to-date practical guide to archives management. This book is ideal for those given responsibility by their organizations for the management of their archives but have no prior education or training in archives management, and for recently qualified professionals and students on archives, library and information courses nationally and internationally.

The book offers guidance in the implementation of archival processes in a range of institutional contexts, and enables a universal application.

Caroline Williams is continually exposed to international theoretical developments in the field and is used to conveying these through teaching, both in the classroom and through the writing of distance learning materials. She has significant practical experience at a senior level and strong links with the professional archival community and strategic national players.

Content:
Introducing archives - defining archives within the wider record keeping framework; why people keep archives; who uses archives and what for; media and formats – from parchment to the digital and digitised; basic attributes and principles.

Archives in context – archives as ‘evidence’; archives as ‘memory’; where to find archives (and local experts); in-house and collecting archives; public and private sector archives; libraries, galleries and museums; independent and community archives.

Management matters – human resources; what skills do I need?; financial: how much will it cost?; planning: defining policies and setting achievable targets; establishing networks; where can I get more help? Physical maintenance: how to preserve archives for the long-term - preparing for preservation; housing archives; storing archives; handling and packaging archives; displaying archives; audio, video and digital media; applying the right standards.

Intellectual control: knowing what you have got and what to do with it - taking stock; basic principles; acquiring, collecting; selecting and appraising; arranging archives; describing archives; creating finding aids; applying the right standards.

Making archives accessible – advocacy, outreach and promotion: ‘selling’ your archives; identifying your users; enabling access; reaching the ‘non-user’.

The wider world of archives - UK resources; international resources; legislative and statutory requirements.