Determining the flow of an organization’s records ensures that archivists schedule materials for disposition.

In addition, archivists can liaise with departments within their organizations to help retain significant documentation and inclusion of those records within the archives. If there is not already one, creating a records retention schedule should be one of the archivists’ first tasks after an archival assessment.

Many organizations have little room to store archival collections, so rare and fragile materials often end up in less-than-ideal locations.

In addition, most materials deteriorate over time, especially audiovisual materials, so a vigilant eye is needed to protect the items chosen for archival collections.

An accurate assessment of archival collections assists organizations in strategically meeting user needs, allocating resources effectively, and securing funding. Simply put, archivists cannot manage collections if they do not know what they are managing.

Only a fraction of an organization’s records finds their way into the archives. Archives hold non-current records with permanent historical value.

They are no longer needed during day-to-day institutional activities, but they document organizational history. Just as each organization is unique, its archives are equally distinctive. Professional archival principles and standards have been developed over decades of archival practice. However, each organization will adhere to them in its own way.

Founding an archives program takes knowledge and skill. To be successful, archivists also need to wield their political savvy and institutional advocacy. Building support for archival management requires buy-in from executives and employees.