APPLYING AUTOMATED TECHNIQUES TO ARCHIVES ADMINISTRATION: A COMMENTARY ON THE PRESENT SITUATION AND AREAS OF LIKELY PROGRESS Available to Purchase

A broad discussion of progress in the automation of archive administration, in the light of links between archivists, museum staffs, librarians and information scientists. A brief survey of the history and literature of the subject is followed by an analysis of the special problems involved in archival description (uniqueness, bulk, new accruals, the need to describe at different levels). The special nature of records management and the control of machine‐readable archives, and the nature of the professional response of archivists are considered and current problems (under‐use of some materials combined with excessive user demand). Conclusions include a recommendation for further development of an agreed data standard.