An ongoing debate in the archival profession has been the distinction between archival theory and the practicalities of the profession. What Are Archives? attempts to bridge this divide by bringing the often practical focused British Archive tradition into a theoretical and cultural context; or as the author emphasis shifting focus from the “how” to the “why” of archival work. Originating from a 2006 Society of Archivists Conference session with the same title, this compilation of essays presents the often neglected British contribution to archival theory.
What are Archives? is divided into four themes: continuity and change in the archival paradigm; the impact of technology; the impact of community archives; and archival use and users. The book attempts to weave together theoretical perspectives with real life examples of archival practice. All contributors are active in the British archival community and include both academics and practicing archivists.
Theme one, continuity and change in the archival paradigm, provides an overview of current issues dominating archival theory. The introductory essay by Louise Craven provides an accessible and comprehensive introduction of five main areas that can be seen as demanding a shift in archival theory; that of: technology, changes in understanding of heritage and culture, the role of archives within the academic context, archives in the media, and E‐records. From an international perspective, this chapter provides a useful overview of how British archivists are currently reacting to the changing demands that face archivists around the world, including specific British projects such as the CASBAH project and the impact of television programs such as Who Do You Think You Are? on users of British archives.
The two essays that follow in the theme are less successful in their ability to display changing paradigms of archival theory. Andrew Prescott's “The textuality of the archive,” uses textualism and post‐modernism to draw upon new methods for archivists to approach records. Caroline William's “Personal papers” argues for greater acceptance of personal papers in the concept of a proper Archive. Both authors suffer from a lack of acknowledgment of current debate and progress made internationally, resulting in essays that may be enlightening for archivists taught within the British paradigm but are lacking for those familiar with Australian or Canadian developments.
It is with the second theme, the impact of technology, that this compilation is most successful in presenting essays that root archival practice in a theoretical framework. Michael Moss's “Opening Pandora's box” provides a strong argument for how archival theory, along with other theoretical frameworks such as post‐modernism, can provide a strong basis to approach the questions faced in everyday archival work. Moss's discussion, exemplifies how the use of a variety of perspectives in our understanding of what a document, record or archive is can result in a strong archival profession better able to adjust to the changing needs of our users. Jane Stevenson's “The online archivist” provides a much needed reminder to the archival community, as well as librarians, that a positive, exploratory approach to new technologies will provide a more productive profession, and provide better services to our users. Andrea Johnson's “Users, use and context,” found in the last theme is a valuable companion essay, displaying such an approach in action where theory, technology and user studies combine to improve the dispensing of information to our users in a digital environment.
Theme III, the impact of community archives does not explore the role of community institutional archive but rather the question of documenting communities that have no Archive to collect their records. Andrew Flin's “Other ways of thinking, other ways of being” focuses on the complications of documenting the anti‐globalization movement. Andrew Prescott discusses the documenting of the ’exile’ in “Archives of the exile.” Both essays provide an example of how developments in cultural understanding, archival theory, and technology are changing our view of what an archive is and how it completes its tasks.
The final theme concerns archive use and users. As mentioned earlier, Johnson's contribution discusses user behaviour in digital archives. Both archivists and librarians alike will find this ongoing work of interest to better harness the power of new technologies for the benefit of our users. Concluding What Are Archives? is an exploratory essay on the question of access that unfortunately seems an insufficient conclusion to a topic of ever growing importance.
Written as an argument for an increased rooting of archival practices in archival theory, What are Archives? does offer an accessible and wide area of coverage. For the novice or student archivist, the compilation will provide a useful introduction to archival theory. For those already familiar with ongoing theoretical debates, many of these essays are a repeat of ideas more fully developed in international archival literature in the last 20 years. Yet, as an introduction to British archival theory, and current archival practices in the country, the book does provide a valuable addition to the important discussion of what archives are from a British perspective.
Increasingly, those in the cultural and information industries of archives, libraries and museums are faced with the question of how to respond to new cultural understandings of their role in society and the ramifications of technological changes for collection management and user access. This book attempts, and is often successful in displaying how the combination of different disciplines, theories, and the realities of everyday practice have the potential to develop a more effective response. Such a reminder is useful for all in the information and cultural sector.
