This archival service is established under the authority of the Library. The purpose of the archives service is to acquire, preserve and make accessible archival collections held by the James Hardiman Library, and provide services in support of the research and information needs of the College Community and other appropriate users. It shall also endeavor to attract researchers to the Library, provide a valuable resource within the overall library service, and co-operate with other repositories at regional and national level. 4 Definitions Records Documents containing data or information of any kind and in any form, created or received and accumulated by an organisation or person in the transaction of business or the conduct of affairs. They are subsequently kept as evidence of such activity through incorporation into the recordkeeping system of the organisation or person.
Records are the information by-products of organisational and social activity.
Those records that are appraised as having continuing value. Traditionally the term has been used to describe records no longer required for current use which have been selected for permanent preservation. The process by which an archives service adds to the holdings by accepting material as a transfer, donation loan or purchase. The actions which enable the materials in an archives to be retained for as long as they are needed, that is the basic functions of storing, protecting and maintaining records and archives in archival custody. Access The granting of permission to use the reference facilities of an archives examine and study individual archives and records or collections held by the archives.