Member News & Events

What is an Access Policy? Your Access Policy should be written as one of your repository’s founding documents, since providing access is the fundamental reason all archives exist – archives preserve records and materials so they can be accessible to people now and into the future. An Access Policy clearly articulates the archives’ commitment to provide fair and equal access to all users of your archive; your responsibility to protect private or potentially harmful information; rules, laws, and restrictions that govern access services; and what guidelines researchers must follow in order to gain access to your archives. Why it is…

It is no surprise that discussions surrounding preservation in archives are fraught with stress and hand-wringing, especially given climate change. Few can escape the effects of on-going temperature fluctuations and moisture, no matter a building’s age or construction. A Preservation Policy lends some security against the ever-changing weather and implements strategic measures to protect holdings.  There are two sample policies provided below and this blog post will lead you through their various sections. Please use the templates as a guide and adapt them in any way to suit the requirements of your archives.  We encourage you to make reviewing the…

What is it? The CNSA was one of the first in Eastern Canada to introduce a Cooperative Acquisition Strategy and make it publicly available. The strategy encourages transparency with donations and ensures that they make their way to the most appropriate home in the province. In doing so, our documentary heritage is preserved at local, regional, and provincial levels. This strategy is often referred to in Acquisition Policies within Nova Scotia. How does the Strategy help CNSA Members? The Cooperative Acquisition Strategy prevents competition and collection overlaps between institutions. At the same time, it empowers you, the archivist, to decline records…

What is an Acquisition Policy? Archives exist to acquire, preserve, and make documents available to users. An Acquisition Policy establishes criteria for what types of records and materials an archive will and can accept into its collection and who has the authority to make these decisions. It answers questions such as how does the archive acquire records & materials? What types of records & materials will & can the archives acquire & preserve? Who is responsible for the archives & acquisition? It also articulates the standards and values your archive upholds to its donors, users, and the community.  Why Is…