Selecting & Appraising Archives & Manuscripts

Appraisal theory has benefited from a lively professional discussion about what the theory is and what makes sense. This text provides a thorough review of diverse theories and offers a guide to the process, addressing appraisals thorny issues, such as reappraisal and the appraisal of non-textual records.Novices will appreciate the opening chapter on "Why Archivists Select," which provides a strong foundation for the overview of appraisal theory that follows. The examination of the nuts-and-bolts decision-making process gives guidance and advice to archivists unfamiliar with the selection process. Useful appendices, including a comprehensive bibliography, supplement the text. This book gives readers an opportunity to reconsider the importance of appraisal and reflect on the often boisterous discussion around it.