Agenda Item IV.B.
Society of American Archivists
Council Meeting
May 24 – 26, 2011
Chicago, Illinois
Discussion Item: Revised Draft Values Statement
(Prepared by: Rosalye Settles and Scott Cline)
BACKGROUND
Created by the SAA Council in February 2009, the Task Force on Developing a
Statement of Core Values for Archivists was charged to develop a “Core Values”
statement with full consultation and participation by SAA members and other archives
associations.
Prior to distributing a draft statement for members’ and others’ feedback, the Task Force
solicited reactions and feedback from the Council at the May 2010 and August 2010
Council Meetings. In August 2010, the Council approved the draft presented
(APPENDIX A) and directed broad dissemination of the draft to obtain member feedback
for a six-week period ending October 15, 2010. Comments were compiled and
forwarded to the Executive Committee. Following the January 2011 Council meeting,
those member comments were sent to the Task Force members for their consideration
and, as appropriate, incorporation into the document.
The Task Force submitted a revised Values Statement draft with significant revisions to
the Council via e-mail discussion in March 2011 (APPENDIX B). These revisions
reflected substantial feedback, complaints, and suggestions made by individual members,
including members of the Council, past SAA presidents, past Council members, and
other SAA members.
DISCUSSION
The March 2011 draft elicited further discussion and concerns from Council members.
The Council determined that Task Force revisions significantly changed the
understanding, tone, and context of the August 2010 draft. The motion to adopt the
March 2011 draft was withdrawn. Council members agreed via email communication to
table further discussion until the May 2011 Council meeting. Council member Scott
Cline drafted a new revision, including embedded comments, as a starting point for the
Council’s discussion and revision of the March 2011 draft. Cline’s draft with comments
is attached as APPENDIX C.
Discussion: Values Statement
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DRAFT RECOMMENDATIONS
THAT the “Core Values of Archivists” document as presented in Appendix C of
Agenda Item IV.B. be adopted; and
THAT the Task Force on Developing a Statement of Core Values for Archivists be
disbanded with thanks.
Support Statement: A statement of values that defines a profession is a central
component of professional identity. Articulating core archival values informs archivists
within the profession and informs society of the contributions that archivists make. This
document, which was drafted by the Task Force on Developing a Statement of Core
Values for Archivists and vetted with the SAA membership, represents a significant step
forward in defining archivists’ professional identity.
Fiscal Impact: None.
Discussion: Values Statement
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APPENDIX A
CORE VALUES OF ARCHIVISTS
(July 19, 2010, draft revision incorporating the Council’s comments.)
PURPOSE:
Archivists engage in the essential functions of selecting, preserving, and making
available the primary sources that document the activities of institutions, communities
and individuals, either for legal and administrative evidence or as part of the cultural
heritage of society. The modern archives profession bases its theoretical foundations and
functions on a set of core values that define and guide the practices and activities of
archivists, both individually and collectively. Values embody what a profession stands
for and should form the basis for the behavior of its members.
In contributing to the public good, archivists identify and preserve essential parts of the
cultural heritage of society; organize and maintain the documentary record of institutions,
groups, and individuals; assist in the process of remembering the past through authentic
and reliable primary sources; and serve a broad range of people who seek to locate and
use vital evidence and information. Since ancient times, archives have afforded a
fundamental power to those who control them. In a democratic society such power should
benefit all members of the community. The values shared and espoused by archivists
enable them to meet these obligations and to provide vital services on behalf of all groups
and individuals in society.
This statement of core archival values articulates these central principles both to remind
archivists why they engage in their professional responsibilities and to inform others of
the basis for archivists’ contributions to society. This statement of core values held by
archivists acknowledges that archivists are often subjected to competing claims and
imperatives, and that in certain situations particular values may pull in opposite
directions. This statement may provide some guidance by identifying, both for archivists
and for others concerned about archives, the core values that guide archivists in making
such decisions and choices. Core values provide part of the context in which to examine
ethical concerns.
CORE VALUES OF ARCHIVISTS:
Access and use: Archivists acknowledge that the principal purpose of documentary
preservation is its use by anyone who can thereby benefit from the archival record.
Archivists promote and provide the widest possible accessibility of materials, consistent
with any mandatory access restrictions imposed by public statute, donor contract, or
corporate competitive advantage. Although access may be limited in order to protect
legitimate rights and interests related to legal, security, intellectual property, cultural
norms, and privacy considerations, archivists promote the widest possible accessibility of
materials consistent with these concerns. Access to records is essential in personal,
academic, business, and government settings, and use of records should be both
Discussion: Values Statement
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welcomed and actively promoted. Even individuals who do not directly use archival
materials benefit indirectly from research, public programs, and other forms of archival
use, including the symbolic value of knowing that such records exist and can be accessed
when needed.
Accountability: By documenting institutional functions, activities, and decision-making,
archivists provide an important means of ensuring accountability. In a republic such
accountability and transparency constitute an essential hallmark of democracy. Public
leaders must be held accountable both to the judgment of history and future generations
as well as to citizens in the ongoing governance of society. Access to the records of
public officials and agencies provides a vital part of accountability. In the private sector
accountability through archival documentation also protects the rights and interests of
consumers, shareholders, and citizens. Archivists in collecting repositories may not share
the same level of responsibility for accountability, but do maintain evidence of the
actions of individuals, groups, and organizations, which may be required to provide
accountability before the judgment of contemporary and future interests.
Advocacy: Archivists promote the use and understanding of the historical record. They
serve as advocates for their own archival programs and institutional needs. They also
advocate the application of archival issues and values in a variety of settings including, to
the extent consistent with their institutional responsibilities, the political arena. Archivists
may engage in discussions of the formation of public policy related to archival and
recordkeeping concerns and help to ensure that their expertise can be used in the public
interest.
Diversity: Although specific archival institutions may serve a limited number of
constituencies, archivists collectively seek to document and preserve the record of the
broadest possible range of individuals, socio-economic groups, governance, and
corporate entities in society. Archivists embrace the importance of deliberately acting to
identify (even create) materials documenting those whose voices have been overlooked
or marginalized. They seek to build connections to under-documented communities. Such
connections support acquisition and preservation of sources relating to the communities’
activities, encouragement of community members’ use of archival research sources,
and/or assist these groups in forming their own community archives. Archivists actively
work to achieve a diversified and representative membership in the profession.
History and memory: Archivists recognize that primary sources enable people to
understand past events and tell stories of our ancestors, thereby gaining insights into the
human condition. Documents provide surrogates for human memory, both individually
and collectively, and when properly maintained, they serve as authentic and reliable
evidence against which individual and social memory can be tested. Archivists preserve
such primary sources in order to enable us to better comprehend the past, understand the
present, and prepare for the future. Understanding history requires knowledge and
appreciation of context, which is thus a central principle (provenance) in archival theory
and practice relating to organizing and interpreting primary sources.
Discussion: Values Statement
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Preservation: Archivists preserve a wide variety of primary sources in order to enable
future generations to know the past and to use these essential legal, evidentiary, and
cultural resources. Preserving materials is a means to an end not an end in itself. Within
prescribed law and best practice standards, archivists may determine that the original
documents themselves must be preserved, while at other times the information they
contain or their symbolic value may be sufficient. Archivists thus preserve materials for
the benefit of the future more than for the concerns of the past.
Professionalism: As members of an important profession, archivists adhere to a common
mission, accept an evolving theoretical base of knowledge, develop and follow
professional standards, strive for excellence in their daily practice, and recognize the
importance of professional education, including lifelong learning. They encourage
professional development among their co-workers, foster the aspirations of those entering
the archival profession, and actively share their knowledge and expertise. Archivists seek
to expand opportunities to cooperate with other information professionals and with users
and potential users of the archival record.
Responsible Custody: Archivists execute their work knowing they must ensure proper
custody for the documents and records entrusted to them. As responsible stewards,
archivists are committed to making the best choices for the holdings of their institutions.
They accept responsibility for balancing the competing interests of various archival
stakeholders. Archivists are judicious stewards who manage records by following best
practices in developing facilities service standards, collection development policies, and
other performance records and metrics. They are willing to collaborate with external
partners when needed to preserve and make records available. Archival management
decisions are designed to limit risks to collections through preservation and, when
necessary, finding alternative custodians when a repository is disbanded or no longer
supported. When necessary, archivists recognize the need to undertake appropriate steps
to deaccession materials so that resources can be strategically applied to the most
essential or useful materials.
Selection: Archivists make choices about which materials to select for preservation based
on the needs of a wide range of potential users. The vast quantities of documents and
records created in modern society, in both analog and digital forms, are far too costly to
preserve in their entirety and much too unwieldy to search successfully for specific
information or knowledge. This quantity makes it necessary to select which deserve and
require long-term preservation and which may not. Archival records comprise a wide
array of media—including textual, visual, sound, electronic, born digital, and others—
needed for documentation. In collaborating with other stakeholders to determine which
primary sources should be selected for archival preservation, archivists recognize the
necessity of choosing wisely which materials will be available for future use. They
acknowledge and accept the responsibility they thus assume as active agents in shaping
and interpreting the documentation of the past.
Service: Archivists serve numerous constituencies and stakeholders, which may include
institutional administrators, creators and donors of documentary materials, rights holders,
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documented peoples, researchers using the archives for many distinct purposes, corporate
and governmental interests, and/or citizens concerned with the information and evidence
held in archival sources. Within the mandate and mission of their institution, archivists
provide effective and efficient connections to (and mediation for) primary sources so that
users, whoever they may be, can discover and benefit from the archival record of society,
its institutions, and individuals. Archivists seek to meet the needs of users as quickly,
effectively, and efficiently as possible.
Social responsibility: Underlying all of the responsibilities of archivists is their
responsibility to a variety of groups in society and to the public good. Most immediately,
archivists serve the needs and interests of their employers and institutions. Yet the
archival record is part of the cultural heritage of all members of society. Even within a
potentially narrowly defined institutional mission, archivists thereby contribute to the
public interest. Archivists strive to meet these broader social responsibilities in their
policies and procedures for selection, preservation, access, and use of the archival record.
In doing so, archivists provide essential services to society.
Discussion: Values Statement
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APPENDIX B
Society of American Archivists
Task Force on Archival Values
CORE VALUES OF ARCHIVISTS
(March 14, 2011, draft revision incorporating member comments.)
PURPOSE:
Archivists select, preserve, and make available primary sources that document the
activities of institutions, communities and individuals. These archival sources can be used
for many purposes including providing legal and administrative evidence, protecting the
rights of individuals and organizations, and forming part of the cultural heritage of
society.
Archivists provide important benefits and services such as: identifying and preserving
essential parts of the cultural heritage of society; organizing and maintaining the
documentary record of institutions, groups, and individuals; assisting in the process of
remembering the past through authentic and reliable primary sources; and serving a broad
range of people who seek to locate and use valuable evidence and information. The core
values embraced by archivists define how they fulfill their professional responsibilities.
This statement of core archival values articulates these central principles both to remind
archivists of their professional responsibilities and to inform others of the basis for
archivists’ contributions to society. Archivists are often subjected to competing claims
and imperatives, and in certain situations particular values may pull in opposite
directions. This statement intends to provide guidance by identifying the core values that
provide part of the context in which to examine ethical concerns.
CORE VALUES OF ARCHIVISTS:
Access and use: Archivists promote and provide the widest possible accessibility of
materials, consistent with any mandatory access restrictions, such as public statute, donor
contract, business/institutional privacy, or personal privacy. Although access may be
limited in some instances, archivists seek to promote open access and use when possible.
Accountability: By documenting institutional functions, activities, and decision-making,
archivists provide an important means of ensuring accountability. Access to the records
of public officials and agencies provides a means of holding them accountable both to
public citizens and to the judgment of future generations. In the private sector,
accountability through archival documentation assists in protecting the rights and
interests of consumers, shareholders, employees, and citizens. Archivists in collecting
repositories may not in all cases share the same level of responsibility for accountability,
but they too maintain evidence of the actions of individuals, groups, and organizations,
which may be required to provide accountability for contemporary and future interests.
Discussion: Values Statement
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Advocacy: Archivists promote the use and understanding of the historical record. They
serve as advocates for their own archival programs and institutional needs. They also
advocate for the application of archival values in a variety of settings including, to the
extent consistent with their institutional responsibilities, the political arena. Archivists
seek to contribute to the formation of public policy related to archival and recordkeeping
concerns and to ensure that their expertise is used in the public interest.
Diversity: Archivists embrace the importance of acting to identify, preserve or, if
necessary, create materials documenting those whose voices have been overlooked or
marginalized. They seek to build connections to under-documented communities to
support: acquisition and preservation of sources relating to these communities’ activities,
encouragement of community members’ use of archival research sources, and/or
formation of community-based archives. Archivists accept and encourage a diversity of
viewpoints on social, political, and intellectual issues, as represented both in archival
records and among members of the profession. They actively work to achieve a
diversified and representative membership in the profession.
History and memory: Archivists recognize that primary sources enable people to
examine the past and thereby gain insights into the human experience. Archival materials
provide surrogates for human memory, both individually and collectively, and when
properly maintained, they serve as evidence against which individual and social memory
can be tested. Archivists preserve such primary sources in order to enable us to better
comprehend the past, understand the present, and prepare for the future.
Preservation: Archivists preserve a wide variety of primary sources for the benefit of
future users. Preserving materials is a means to this end not an end in itself. Within
prescribed law and best practice standards, archivists may determine that the original
documents themselves must be preserved, while at other times copying the information
they contain to alternate media may be sufficient.
Professionalism: Archivists adhere to a common set of missions, values, and ethics.
They accept an evolving theoretical base of knowledge, collaborate with colleagues in
related professions, develop and follow professional standards, strive for excellence in
their daily practice, and recognize the importance of professional education, including
lifelong learning. They encourage professional development among their co-workers,
foster the aspirations of those entering the archival profession, and actively share their
knowledge and expertise. Archivists seek to expand opportunities to cooperate with other
information professionals, with records creators, and with users and potential users of the
archival record.
Responsible Custody: Archivists ensure proper custody for the documents and records
entrusted to them. They are committed to making reasonable and defensible choices for
the holdings of their institutions. They strive to balance the sometimes competing
interests of various stakeholders. Archivists are judicious stewards who manage records
by following best practices in developing facilities service standards, collection
development policies, user service benchmarks, and other performance metrics. They
collaborate with external partners for the benefit of users and public needs. In certain
Discussion: Values Statement
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situations, archivists recognize the need to deaccession materials so that resources can be
strategically applied to the most essential or useful materials.
Selection: Archivists make choices about which materials to retain based on a wide range
of criteria, including the needs of potential users. Understanding that because of the cost
of long-term retention and the challenges of accessibility most of the documents and
records created in modern society cannot be kept, archivists recognize the wisdom of
seeking advice of other stakeholders in making such selections. They acknowledge and
accept the responsibility of serving as active agents in shaping and interpreting the
documentation of the past.
Service: Within the mandates and missions of their institutions, archivists provide
effective and efficient connections to (and mediation for) primary sources so that users,
whoever they may be, can discover and benefit from the archival record of society, its
institutions, and individuals. Archivists serve numerous constituencies and stakeholders,
which may include institutional administrators, creators and donors of documentary
materials, rights holders, un/documented peoples, researchers using the archives for many
distinct purposes, corporate and governmental interests, and/or citizens concerned with
the information and evidence held in archival sources.
Social responsibility: Underlying all the professional activities of archivists is their
responsibility to a variety of groups in society and to the public good. Most immediately,
archivists serve the needs and interests of their employers and institutions. Yet the
archival record is part of the cultural heritage of all members of society. Archivists with
a clearly defined societal mission strive to meet these broader social responsibilities in
their policies and procedures for selection, preservation, access, and use of the archival
record. Archivists with a narrower mandate still contribute to individual and community
memory for their specific constituencies, and in so doing improve the overall knowledge
and appreciation of the past within society.
Discussion: Values Statement
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APPENDIX C
Society of American Archivists
CORE VALUES OF ARCHIVISTS
(April 21, 2011, draft revision by Council member Scott Cline.)
PURPOSE:
[I think the March version edits of the first two sentences are fine. My preference is a
return to the original language (from the version we reviewed in August 2010) of the
final two sentences. This original language states the obvious; I think stating the obvious
is important in this type of document. Values say what we believe and in moral
philosophy, values are the basis for ethical behavior.]
Archivists select, preserve, and make available primary sources that document the
activities of institutions, communities and individuals. These archival sources can be used
for many purposes including providing legal and administrative evidence, protecting the
rights of individuals and organizations, and forming part of the cultural heritage of
society. The modern archives profession bases its theoretical foundations and functions
on a set of core values that define and guide the practices and activities of archivists, both
individually and collectively. Values embody what a profession stands for and should
form the basis for the behavior of its members.
[Again, I think the TF edits in the first part of this paragraph are fine. However, I would
add back the language starting with “Since ancient times….” (Donna also suggested this
in her 3/27/2011 email to Council). The phrasing “define how they fulfill their
professional responsibilities” in the last line of the March TF version is not appropriate
because values don’t specifically define how we do things; they elucidate what we
believe. I do like the TF use of the term “embraced” rather than “espoused” in the last
sentence.]
Archivists provide important benefits and services such as: identifying and preserving
essential parts of the cultural heritage of society; organizing and maintaining the
documentary record of institutions, groups, and individuals; assisting in the process of
remembering the past through authentic and reliable primary sources; and serving a broad
range of people who seek to locate and use valuable evidence and information. Since
ancient times, archives have afforded a fundamental power to those who control them. In
a democratic society such power should benefit all members of the community. The
values shared and embraced by archivists enable them to meet these obligations and to
provide vital services on behalf of all groups and individuals in society.
[The March version changed language in the first sentence from “remind archivists why
they engage in their professional responsibilities” to “remind archivists of their
professional responsibilities.” I am suggesting a change back to the original language. I
think we need to take every opportunity available to get archivists to think about the
Discussion: Values Statement
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“why” question. I would also retain the language in the next to last sentence that reads
“guide archivists in making such decisions and choices. Core values.…”]
This statement of core archival values articulates these central principles both to remind
archivists why they engage in their professional responsibilities and to inform others of
the basis for archivists’ contributions to society. Archivists are often subjected to
competing claims and imperatives, and in certain situations particular values may pull in
opposite directions. This statement intends to provide guidance by identifying the core
values that guide archivists in making such decisions and choices. Core values provide
part of the context in which to examine ethical concerns.
CORE VALUES OF ARCHIVISTS:
[Again, I think the March version edits in the first part of this paragraph seem okay. I
would retain the last two sentences beginning “Access to records is….” (Donna also
suggested this in her 3/37 email).]
Access and use: Archivists promote and provide the widest possible accessibility of
materials, consistent with any mandatory access restrictions, such as public statute, donor
contract, business/institutional privacy, or personal privacy. Although access may be
limited in some instances, archivists seek to promote open access and use when possible.
Access to records is essential in personal, academic, business, and government settings,
and use of records should be both welcomed and actively promoted. Even individuals
who do not directly use archival materials benefit indirectly from research, public
programs, and other forms of archival use, including the symbolic value of knowing that
such records exist and can be accessed when needed.
[I think we should retain the two sentences beginning “In a republic….” (Donna also
suggested this). Modern forms of republican government, and to a certain extent modern
archives, are products of the Enlightenment, and accountability is a central principle of
liberal political thought from that era that is still with us. I think the other TF edits are
okay.]
Accountability: By documenting institutional functions, activities, and decision-making,
archivists provide an important means of ensuring accountability. In a republic such
accountability and transparency constitute an essential hallmark of democracy. Public
leaders must be held accountable both to the judgment of history and future generations
as well as to citizens in the ongoing governance of society. Access to the records of
public officials and agencies provides a means of holding them accountable both to
public citizens and to the judgment of future generations. In the private sector,
accountability through archival documentation assists in protecting the rights and
interests of consumers, shareholders, employees, and citizens. Archivists in collecting
repositories may not in all cases share the same level of responsibility for accountability,
but they too maintain evidence of the actions of individuals, groups, and organizations,
which may be required to provide accountability for contemporary and future interests.
Discussion: Values Statement
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Advocacy: Archivists promote the use and understanding of the historical record. They
serve as advocates for their own archival programs and institutional needs. They also
advocate for the application of archival values in a variety of settings including, to the
extent consistent with their institutional responsibilities, the political arena. Archivists
seek to contribute to the formation of public policy related to archival and recordkeeping
concerns and to ensure that their expertise is used in the public interest.
[I suggest adding back the second clause of the first sentence and begin the paragraph
“Archivists collectively seek….” I don’t have a problem with the use of the word
“create” in the second sentence, but some clarifying language might be necessary—
unless adding such language would distract from the focus on the value itself.]
Diversity: Archivists collectively seek to document and preserve the record of the
broadest possible range of individuals, socio-economic groups, governance, and
corporate entities in society. Archivists embrace the importance of acting to identify,
preserve or, if necessary, create materials documenting those whose voices have been
overlooked or marginalized. They seek to build connections to under-documented
communities to support: acquisition and preservation of sources relating to these
communities’ activities, encouragement of community members’ use of archival research
sources, and/or formation of community-based archives. Archivists accept and encourage
a diversity of viewpoints on social, political, and intellectual issues, as represented both
in archival records and among members of the profession. They actively work to achieve
a diversified and representative membership in the profession.
History and memory: Archivists recognize that primary sources enable people to
examine the past and thereby gain insights into the human experience. Archival materials
provide surrogates for human memory, both individually and collectively, and when
properly maintained, they serve as evidence against which individual and social memory
can be tested. Archivists preserve such primary sources in order to enable us to better
comprehend the past, understand the present, and prepare for the future.
[I would put “generations” back and end the first sentence there. I am assuming a
narrow interpretation of the term “users” and argue that we preserve primary sources
for all of society, even (or maybe especially) for those who are not direct users. I would
also retain the final sentence, although I would not go to the mat on that one.]
Preservation: Archivists preserve a wide variety of primary sources for the benefit of
future generations. to know the past and to use these essential legal, evidentiary, and
cultural resources. Preserving materials is a means to this end not an end in itself. Within
prescribed law and best practice standards, archivists may determine that the original
documents themselves must be preserved, while at other times copying the information
they contain to alternate media may be sufficient. Archivists thus preserve materials for
the benefit of the future more than for the concerns of the past.
Professionalism: Archivists adhere to a common set of missions, values, and ethics.
They accept an evolving theoretical base of knowledge, collaborate with colleagues in
Discussion: Values Statement
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related professions, develop and follow professional standards, strive for excellence in
their daily practice, and recognize the importance of professional education, including
lifelong learning. They encourage professional development among their co-workers,
foster the aspirations of those entering the archival profession, and actively share their
knowledge and expertise. Archivists seek to expand opportunities to cooperate with other
information professionals, with records creators, and with users and potential users of the
archival record.
[I would put back the opening of the second sentence: “As responsible stewards,
archivists….” Similar to my desire for archivists to ask “why” questions, I think we need
to engage the ideas of responsibility and obligation. Thus I think there is power in
stating it clearly.
Responsible Custody: Archivists ensure proper custody for the documents and records
entrusted to them. As responsible stewards, archivists are committed to making
reasonable and defensible choices for the holdings of their institutions. They strive to
balance the sometimes competing interests of various stakeholders. Archivists are
judicious stewards who manage records by following best practices in developing
facilities service standards, collection development policies, user service benchmarks,
and other performance metrics. They collaborate with external partners for the benefit of
users and public needs. In certain situations, archivists recognize the need to deaccession
materials so that resources can be strategically applied to the most essential or useful
materials.
[In the first sentence of the March version: I don’t like the TF use of the word “retain”
in the context of selection. It makes it sound like the records are already ours and that
selection is simply about deciding to keep them longer. I would go back to “select for
preservation.”]
Selection: Archivists make choices about which materials to select for preservation based
on a wide range of criteria, including the needs of potential users. Understanding that
because of the cost of long-term retention and the challenges of accessibility most of the
documents and records created in modern society cannot be kept, archivists recognize the
wisdom of seeking advice of other stakeholders in making such selections. They
acknowledge and accept the responsibility of serving as active agents in shaping and
interpreting the documentation of the past.
[I really like that the mandates sentence was moved to the beginning of the paragraph.
In addition, I would keep the final sentence—“Archivists seek to meet…”—at the end of
the paragraph because it speaks to responsibility and obligation.]
Service: Within the mandates and missions of their institutions, archivists provide
effective and efficient connections to (and mediation for) primary sources so that users,
whoever they may be, can discover and benefit from the archival record of society, its
institutions, and individuals. Archivists serve numerous constituencies and stakeholders,
which may include institutional administrators, creators and donors of documentary
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materials, rights holders, un/documented peoples, researchers using the archives for many
distinct purposes, corporate and governmental interests, and/or citizens concerned with
the information and evidence held in archival sources. Archivists seek to meet the needs
of users as quickly, effectively, and efficiently as possible.
[I did not change anything in this paragraph. It is not as strong a statement as I would
prefer. Because earlier sections touch on social responsibility and justice, I have not
attempted to craft new language.]
Social responsibility: Underlying all the professional activities of archivists is their
responsibility to a variety of groups in society and to the public good. Most immediately,
archivists serve the needs and interests of their employers and institutions. Yet the
archival record is part of the cultural heritage of all members of society. Archivists with
a clearly defined societal mission strive to meet these broader social responsibilities in
their policies and procedures for selection, preservation, access, and use of the archival
record. Archivists with a narrower mandate still contribute to individual and community
memory for their specific constituencies, and in so doing improve the overall knowledge
and appreciation of the past within society.
Discussion: Values Statement
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