Preserving archival records : a preservation guide to archival services

Abstract

This guide is not an academic account of the subject of archival preservation. It does not in any way pretend to give answers to preservation issues or to act as a standard on the subject. It is also written with the Maltese scenario in mind, although some of the concepts are common to all archival repositories. What this publication is after is to provide a point of reflection for both users and archivists around the basic issues of preservation. Although most of the points mentioned seem common sense issues, yet, it is amazing how difficult it is to find these measures being applied in certain Maltese archives. It is a pity that till now the emphasis by some major archives has been on restricting access, rather than on restricting unethical archival practices. This publication also coincides with the launching of a number of preservation gadgets (such as foam book-rests and snakes) at the reading rooms of the National Archives. We are hoping that our efforts will be followed by other archival institutions for which the National Archives is not directly responsible. Both the National Archives administration and the committee of the Friends of the National Archives of Malta will be more than happy to give advice and help to any institution wishing to implement preservation strategies in its archives.