Talk:Archives

Draft for archiving page at http://www.wdc-mare.org/service/index.html

Thus, modern libraries are increasingly being redefined as places to get unrestricted access to information in many formats and from many sources. More recently, libraries are understood as extending beyond the physical walls of a building, providing assistance in navigating and analyzing tremendous amounts of knowledge with a variety of digital tools.

Archives refers to a collection of records, and also refers to the location in which these records are kept. Archives are made up of records which have been created during the course of an individual or organisation's life. Records, which may be in any media, are normally unpublished, unlike books and other publications. Archives can be personal, and as such are sometimes referred to as manuscripts. Archives may also be generated by large organizations such as corporations and governments. The highest level of organization of records in an archives is known as the fonds. Archives are distinct from libraries insofar as archives hold records which are unique. Archives can be described as holding information "by-products" of activities, while libraries hold specifically authored information "products". The word 'archives' is the correct terminology, whereas 'archive' as a noun or a verb is related to computer science.