The Archival Enterprise

Book excerpt: The Archival Enterprise from the first word recognises professional archival work as an enterprise - a big, bold and sometimes difficult undertaking requiring energy and initiative. Canons of good practice, tightened educational guidelines, and a certification programme indicate the dynamic, adaptive, and ever-changing nature of the archival profession. Reflecting the belief that archival work is fundamentally important to society, culture, education and economic progress, this work introduces archival theory and practice, describes the elements of historical records programmes, explains archival techniques and procedures, and analyses issues and challenges facing the profession today.