Systems of appraisal for the management of research records – content, value and contingency

One of the key issues that affects practitioners is the question of selection and the relationship this bears to records content and an evaluation of the long term value of collections of records. Appraisal has been the means developed by records management and archives to deal with this problem. In this respect, the aim of this paper has been to describe those theories of appraisal that are currently most influential in highlighting the choices and pathways that each present to those actively engaged in research, or in designing recordkeeping systems to manage research records. The conclusion is that the claims to singularity and independence that these perspectives represent will not be maintained during the course of dealing with the complex contingencies encountered when managing real recordkeeping systems. The alternative is to evaluate the strengths and difficulties that each represents and on this basis, develop appraisal strategies that most effectively meet the requirements of the wide range of interests likely to be involved.