The Work of Archivists Archival Repositories Qualifications for Employment Salaries and Benefits Archives Archives are the non-current records of individuals, groups, institutions, and governments that contain information of enduring value. Formats represented in the modern archival repository include photographs, films, video and sound recordings, computer tapes, and video and optical disks, as well as the more traditional unpublished letters, diaries, and other manuscripts.
Archival records are the products of everyday activity.
Researchers use them both for their administrative value and for purposes other than those for which they were created. In short, archives benefit nearly everyone, even those who have never directly used them. The primary task of the archivist is to establish and maintain control, both physical and intellectual, over records of enduring value. Archivists select records, a process that requires an understanding of the historical context in which the records were created, the uses for which they were intended, and their relationships to other sources. All archivists, especially those with administrative responsibilities, need to understand and apply the principles of sound management to their work.