Reflections on archival strategies

Abstract

Even if one is not satisfied with David Bearman's solutions to the questions he raises in Archival Methods and Archival Strategies, the issues of reinventing archival functions are important and need to be addressed by the archival community. Some of the challenges to the application of Bearman's proposed strategies are the undeniable cultural purposes of archives and the changing nature and growing complexity and interrelatedness of government bureaucracies. In addition, the right of the public to use archives is fundamental and a fuller awareness of the needs of both traditional and potential archival stakeholders is necessary in any reinvention process. Ultimately, however, the reinvention process will not be one of debate but of action; its success dependent on the creativity of the archival staffs and archival administrators who address the issues raised by Bearman.