Clear, concise archival descriptions improve accessibility, support discoverability, and enhance the research experience. In this article, we’ll explore best practices for crafting finding aids that are both informative and engaging.
How much detail is enough when describing an archival collection? Finding the right balance between broad overviews and detailed item descriptions ensures accessibility, research efficiency, and proper context for archival materials.
Standards like ISAD(G), DACS, and EAD guide archivists in creating clear, consistent descriptions for easier access. Learn more about each of these frameworks and how they enhance visibility and research.
Managing and arranging mixed-media archives requires balancing the unique needs of physical and digital records. Discover best practices for metadata, organizational structures, and cross-referencing to ensure seamless access and long-term preservation.
Arranging digital archives comes with unique challenges, requiring new strategies to preserve context, manage volume, and ensure long-term access. How can archivists adapt to safeguard digital heritage?
Archival arrangement is the foundation of efficient records management, ensuring materials are structured for preservation and accessibility. Guided by the principles of original order and provenance, archivists maintain the integrity and context of collections, allowing researchers to uncover valuable historical insights.
Accessioning is the critical first step in managing archival collections, ensuring that newly acquired materials are formally accepted, documented, and integrated into a repository’s holdings. This essential process lays the groundwork for preservation, organization, and future access.
A strong acquisition policy is the foundation of a well-managed archive. It ensures collections align with an institution’s mission, meet legal and ethical standards, and remain sustainable over time. By defining scope, setting criteria, and planning for resources, archivists can build meaningful collections that serve researchers for generations.
Archival acquisition is the heart of preserving history, ensuring records of lasting value are saved for future generations. In this post, Margot Note breaks down the essentials of archival acquisition with tips and insights to help build meaningful archival collections.
Archival appraisal involves not just technical processes but significant ethical considerations. Archivists must navigate privacy, representation, and access issues while making decisions that will shape the historical record.
Archival selection determines which records should be retained for long-term preservation. The process focuses on the practical aspects of deciding what to keep and discard based on the archives’ mission, user needs, and the potential research value of the records.
Developing strategies for sustaining and growing the archives over time is essential to ensure long-term success.
The path to sustainability in special libraries combines technological advancement, waste reduction, collection digitization, and community education.
