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Policy: Pacific Research Archives collecting

Purpose

To define the material which the Pacific Research Archives in the Australian National University Archives seeks to acquire for its collection.

Overview

The Pacific Research Archives at the Australian National University (ANU) is a significant national centre for research and teaching resources on the Pacific.

The Pacific Research Archives collects, preserves and provides access to unpublished and published research material from and about the Pacific Islands.

The Pacific Research Archives collaborates with the ANU College of Asia and the Pacific, the ANU Library, the Pacific Manuscripts Bureau, the National Library of Australia and the National Archives of Australia to develop the Pacific resources at the ANU.

Scope

This policy covers all acquisitions by the Pacific Research Archives.

Definitions

Continuing research value the value of records beyond their immediate purpose of creation for their potential for use in future research

Provenance the origin of records: who created and maintained them and for what purpose

Record (AS ISO 15489) information created, received and maintained as evidence and as an asset by an organisation or person, in pursuit of legal obligations or in the transaction of business

Policy statement

  1. The Pacific Research Archives actively seeks to acquire records based on the following criteria:
  • geographic limitations;
  • provenance;
  • continuing research value; and
  • format and condition.

Geographic limitations

  1. The geographic limitations on the collection policy of the Pacific Research Archives relate to the area identified by the scholarly community as the Pacific.

Provenance

  1. The provenance of records the Pacific Research Archives seeks to acquire is broadly:
  • material of scholars involved in the study of the Pacific, including but not limited to those from the ANU; or
  • material of individuals, organisations and societies related to the Pacific.

Continuing research value

  1. The Pacific Research Archives collects materials that have continuing research value for scholars and individuals interested in the study of the Pacific region. The College of Asia and Pacific, School of Culture, History and Language supports the Pacific Research Archives through expert scholarly advice.

Format and condition

  1. The Pacific Research Archives accepts records in many formats including, but not limited to, paper records, printed and published material, audio-visual material, photographs, digital images and electronic documents. Records with identified conservation problems such as mould, chemical contamination or insect infestation, which threaten the preservation of the existing collection or the health of staff, are not accepted by the Pacific Research Archives until those problems are remedied.

Information

Printable version (PDF)
Title Pacific research archives collecting
Document Type Policy
Document Number ANUP_009409
Version
Purpose To define the material which the Pacific Research Archives in the Australian National University Archives seeks to acquire for its collection.
Audience Staff-Academic, Students-Graduate-Research, Staff-Academic-Research
Category Academic
Topic/ SubTopic Information Management - Records & Archives
 
Effective Date 16 Aug 2023
Next Review Date 15 Aug 2028
 
Responsible Officer: University Librarian and Director, Scholarly Information Services
Approved By: Academic Board
Contact Area Library, Archives and University Records
Authority: Archives Act 1983
Delegations 395, 397

Information generated and received by ANU staff in the course of conducting business on behalf of ANU is a record and should be captured by an authorised recordkeeping system. To learn more about University records and recordkeeping practice at ANU, see ANU recordkeeping and Policy: Records and archives management.