Following on from Ian Johnston's email:
I think the two elements of appraisal and acquisition are quite distinct
enough not to let them be confused in the process of building up our
collections. Of course we need links out in all communities and
organisations to try to ensure that they will see our archive services as
being the appropriate home for their material.
But, this does not mean we would keep all the records that any organisation
wanted us to. A sound objective assessment of the long term
historical/evidential value is essential, and this can only be properly
carried out by trained experienced staff.
Bruce Jackson
-----Original Message-----
From: [log in to unmask]
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 26 October 2001 10:23
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: FW: Volunteer Reveiwer
Sorry to be pedantic, but I would suggest that "probably the most important
of all an archives' functions" is acquisition - after all, if nothing is
collected, there is nothing to review (although I accept that 'acquisition'
and 'appraisal' are often inter-linked). The question of whether only
qualified archivists should be responsible for pro-active acquisition is an
interesting one. Certainly, in the US, important collections relating to
minority ethnic communities have been acquired only as a result of employing
'intermediaries' within those communities who don't have an archive
background.
> Appraisal is probably the most important of all an archives' functions and
should only be undertaken
> by experienced professionals...it's the appraisal process, after all,
which decides once and for all > what the historians of the future are going
to use and interpret.
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