Archives: Principles and Practices

Citation

Richmond, L.M. (2011), "Archives: Principles and Practices", Library Review, Vol. 60 No. 3, pp. 263-264. https://doi.org/10.1108/00242531111117335

This manual to archive principles and practice in the English speaking world is an excellent guide to principles and practices for archive management around the globe. It provides a reliable source of specialist advice and practical guidance to managing archives and it is aimed particularly at those who are unsure what the archive profession could and should achieve. It is ideally suited to those who require an authoritative reminder of the duties and responsibilities of the archivist.

The volume is divided into nine chapters, covering such key topics as: defining archives; examining different types of archive institutions; exploring the responsibilities of the archivist and the legislative and management environments in which archivists work; the importance of preservation and the means to achieve it; the archival principles of provenance, original order and respect des fonds; the concept of archival appraisal; archival description and arrangement; access to archives and the outreach of archivists; and the challenge of digital archives. The book is well organised and has a good structure. The index is comprehensive and the list of further reading is appropriate for the level of the book. The glossary of terms provides reassurance, if required, as to the meaning of archival jargon.

This work is easy to read and provides an invaluable refresher for new and older archivists to dip into. The chapter on appraisal and acquisition removes any uncertainty on the practicalities of selection which can blight some students on archive education programmes. It will also be very useful to non‐archivists in the information and heritage sphere who wish to understand the complexities of archive management and the role and responsibilities of their fellow professional – the archivist.

The third chapter, “Archival service: a matter of trust” explores the responsibilities of the archivists and the character of the archival professional. The legislative environment in which archivists work is discussed, with special emphasis on the understanding of intellectual property rights and privacy laws. The requirement for a strong policy framework, including vision, mission and mandate is considered along with administration and management issues such as finances, facilities, equipment and people, especially volunteers (who “risk exhausting staff with their enthusiasm”) and the clarification of priorities.

The chapter on access, the third pillar of archival service, explores the challenges for archivists working in the twenty first century at a time when the expectations of users are very high. The discussion on outreach covers, as one would expect, the latest Web 2.0 technologies but also considers the consequences of technology in terms of increased workloads and the changing expectations of user communities.

Laura Millar is a prominent and respected Canadian archive and information consultant, well known in the field of archive education. I was expecting the context to be very North American but the author and her editor are to be praised for making the volume country neutral with examples from both sides of the Atlantic and elsewhere. The only exception was the use of reference room, reference interview and reference archivist which is not in common parlance in the UK.

Laura's aim was to produce “an introductory work that addresses the scope of archival issues and that, above all, is not just informative but also interesting, challenging and thought provoking”. This she has achieved.