Collection Development & Appraisal Flashcards

Which type of appraisal involves evaluating records at the series or collection level rather than item by item?

Answer: Aggregate appraisal

Aggregate appraisal evaluates groups of records together, making it more efficient than reviewing each item individually.

In US archival practice, what does 'evidential value' refer to?

Answer: The value of records as evidence of the organization and functions of the creating body

Evidential value reflects how well records document the structure, policies, and activities of the creating agency, as defined by T.R. Schellenberg.

Which factor would most strongly argue AGAINST accepting a collection during appraisal?

Answer: The collection duplicates holdings already well-documented in the repository

Unnecessary duplication wastes storage resources and dilutes the uniqueness of a repository's holdings without adding research value.

What is the purpose of a 'retention schedule' in records management as it relates to archival appraisal?

Answer: To define how long records should be kept and whether they have permanent archival value

Retention schedules guide records managers in identifying which records warrant permanent preservation by the archives.

A repository receives a collection with significant research value but no deed of gift. The archivist's best next step is to:

Answer: Contact the transferring party to execute a formal legal agreement before processing

Without a legal agreement, the repository's rights to hold, provide access to, or dispose of the materials are undefined, creating legal and ethical risk.

Which concept describes keeping records of the same origin together to preserve their administrative and contextual relationships?

Answer: Provenance

Provenance requires that records be grouped according to their creator to maintain their evidential and contextual integrity.