Archival records contain important historical information. As primary sources, they allow users to get as close to the past as possible. Often they contain information that legally or ethically should remain private.

Subjects are often unaware of their representation in archival collections, which leaves archivists in the difficult position of allowing access while protecting individuals’ rights. Archivists attempt to resolve this conflict so that the interests of the repository, records creators, and researchers are supported. The balancing act is further complicated with the digital world as archivists determine the subjects’ expectations regarding online access.

Legal history depends on primary sources related to litigation. Rich with research value, case files typically fall into three categories: open public documents; working files—which fall under work product privilege—and client correspondence, which cannot be shared.

Disaster recovery means the readiness to recover records after the disaster has struck. The planning for such an eventuality is part of disaster mitigation, but carrying it out is part of disaster recovery.

Traditionally, vital records were the least interesting or desirable collection to steward in archives and records management. Vital records predated the digital era and their preservation began when information professionals microformed vital materials and stored them at a safe remote location.

In my last blog post, I discussed case files—often voluminous records that contain sensitive, personal information about individuals. Archivists have several appraisal options to consider when reviewing case files:

• Retain all records permanently.

• Retain only key documents from the files.

• Take a sample or selection of the records.

• Take an example of the records.

• Refuse to accept the records.

• Destroy all records.

A case file is a collection of documents relating to a particular investigation or supporting some administrative action.

What is the value of the information contained in archival materials? To determine this, archivists concentrate on the circumstances of creation.

The focus is on identifying the role and significance of the records creator and the position that the records creator held within the organization. The records of a high-level person in an unimportant function may be less critical than lower-level records documenting a vital function. Archivists consider the creator’s position in the organization, the unit activities, and the record function.

The management of electronic records is based on traditional archival and records management theories and practices adapted to the digital environment. A noticeable difference is that the preservation of records begins earlier in the digital environment.

Most archivists would agree that an electronic record is a record in electronic form and a record is a record, regardless of how it is created or the medium on which it is stored.

Archival description, primarily, is a way to bring order to the chaos of unprocessed records of enduring value.

Description is not just what archivists do to an individual collection. Description begins when the collection first comes into a repository—when archivists accession collections into a repository’s recordkeeping system. Archival description is incremental and progressive, and proceeds in a continuum. As archivists work further on a collection, they can provide more detailed and comprehensive information. Archivists are also able to provide a broader range of access points, both local and remote.