In essence, primary sources are the basic materials from which history is written. Proceed to question 8 and question 9 for a discussion of how you can work with primary sources. Libraries collect published material, also known as secondary sources. The holdings of one library may be duplicated in whole or in part by the holdings of another. If a book is lost or stolen it probably can be replaced.
Archives collect original unpublished material or primary sources.
Since archives collect any medium that records information, the format of collections may be diverse and may include letters and diaries, photographs, maps, architectural drawings, computer tape, video and audio cassettes. The size of a collection may range from a single document to hundreds or even thousands of metres of material. Archivists distinguish between record groups and manuscript groups. A record group would include the various media created as part of its activities by a business, government or other institution. The principle of provenance requires that the archives of an organization or person not be mixed or combined with the archives of another.