n.the ongoing usefulness or significance of records that justifies their perpetual preservationBaumhofer 1956, 248Longer retention periods were assigned to film showing minor equipment items, static tests, or subjects where the results were incorporated in literature or in completely edited films. Unedited films showing new and experimental operations were considered to have permanent value, since future research must be based on them.Brichford 1977, 11Information possessing permanent value recorded on impermanent media poses a serious and expensive problem. A voluminous, well-organized file containing uniform data may have archival value if it can be preserved by microphotography.Raymond and O’Toole 1978, 27The archivist, who is by definition interested in retaining records of permanent value, for example, cannot properly identify such records without becoming actively involved in determining the disposition of all records, most of which will not be archival in nature.Maher 1992, 394A clean photo- or electrostatic copy is more consistent with the permanent value of the records than an original containing impermanent portions.Schellenberg 1996, 30While handling records for current uses, they will regard the preservation of those having permanent values as an important aspect of their activity. A government agency, as part of its normal functioning, should preserve records of certain types that have uses beyond those of current operations.
Notes
Many archivists do not describe archival collections as having permanent value, since changing circumstances may make it reasonable to deaccession a series or collection. Rather, they see the archives as retaining records only as long as they have continuing or enduring value.
