v.to consult archival resources for information-seeking and research purposesStewart 1986, 55Students generally use materials for one of three purposes: (1) to prepare research papers for the elective history courses offered at the Institute, especially the History of Technology; the History of Troy, New York; or Industrial Archaeology; (2) to do research for student activities; or (3) to satisfy a personal curiosity about the school or the local region.Van Camp 1986, 109Offices that have records on deposit in the archives frequently need to have information from their own records. Legal department researchers often need to use past records regarding bank policy, procedures, or personnel. Corporate communications staff heavily use past speeches, clippings, photographs and publications.Meissner 1990, 94The value created by the finding aids saves them the significant labor they would expend by directly browsing the materials themselves to make those same decisions. Researchers can make reasonably informed choices regarding whether they want to use the collection, and which parts they want to examine, without having to visit the repository and sometimes without having to interview an archivist to determine whether the collection is relevant to their purpose.Garcia 2017, 190For instance, archivists can promote student learning by identifying materials that can be used in the classroom to demonstrate critical thinking skills, such as the ability to synthesize information across multiple sources and use documentary evidence to support claims.Caswell et al. 2020, 50More specifically, the interviews we conducted with people of color and LGBTQ communities who use community archives revealed the ways in which marginalized people see history repeating itself and the hopes they have that archival labor—including their own volunteer labor—will intervene in that repetition as a form of accountability to future generations of community members.Hernandez 2022, 41However, just because records are not publicly available does not mean they are not used. Internal staff regularly use materials that are restricted from public use, and museum archives staff routinely use unrestricted information included in restricted collections to answer a wide variety of reference requests from external researchers as well as museum staff.to utilize archival resources beyond information-seeking and research purposesBrooks 1969, 72Those responsible for the care of unpublished materials generally recognize the same principle with regard to archives and private papers. They will advise a researcher that he must get permission to use in print more than fifty words, or three lines, or one of various other suggested limits. But it is still the responsibility of the user to decide what he will use and to obtain any permission that is felt necessary.Orbach 1991, 36Provided that historians’ citations were consistent and accurate, that monographs were more regularly used as sources of citations in the indexes, and that citations to unpublished sources were included more consistently, researchers could look up who had written on a topic, see what primary sources they had cited, then cycle back and see who else had used those sources, and what other archival materials they had used, and so on.Ericson 1991, 76In a similar way, we need to cooperate with our users by remembering that we do not collect or preserve records as an end in itself; we do so in order that others may use what we have selected, whether by viewing it in an exhibit, by conducting personal research, or by reading the scholarship of someone else who has conducted research in our holdings.Briston 2015, 10The ways in which people want to use archives are rapidly evolving; new technologies seem to be born every week. Electronic records and digital surrogates can be copied, shared, and transmitted with a simple click of the mouse.Cocciolo 2017, 79Another way to involve students is to have them engage in media projects, such as creating their own short documentary films; they can use archival footage such as oral histories, recordings of events, and other moving image and sound records. This could best be accomplished in collaboration with a professor who works with students on media projects.Dryden 2017, 4Viewed more broadly, citizens seeking to use or reuse copyrighted material must understand copyright law in order to know what uses are permitted.Casto, Lacher-Feldman, and Milano 2020, 98We have also had tourists visit from across the country and around the world, from Florida to South Dakota and the United Kingdom to the Netherlands. We have even had local artists use the collections as inspiration.n.the consultation of archival resources for information-seeking and research purposesMiller 1959, 332Official church records, minutes of meetings, letters, diaries, and journals have all been made available. It is true that the church does exercise some restricting control over the use and publication of private journals deposited in its archives. But I have never been denied the use of any material there; and without church cooperation I could not have gone far in my study.Burckel 1976, 5Because the archivist collects from many segments of the academic community, he may have duplicate files which can be put to good use by alumni staff who might need, for example, an old yearbook or past issue of the campus newspaper.Mackaman 1979, 100A closer look at specific types of cases demonstrates more clearly their potential use. What value does correspondence about disability, discharge status, death benefits, and home loans in veterans’ case files have? In the aggregate, it shows what veterans expect from government and how well government responds.Joyce 1984, 125As custodians of the collective memory dispensing pertinent information as appropriate, archivists best achieve this purpose by identifying these values in documents and by promoting their use. Whether for academic researchers, genealogists, government officials, or people interested in consulting the permanent record of the past, archivists maintain and actively shape the record of the past and attempt to provide links with the needs of their research constituencies.Conway 1986, 396Use occurs in a physical sense in reference rooms when researchers scan collections, series, folders, or individual items in search of information relevant to their needs.Zabrosky 1986, 92While the Archives will allow access to its collections and materials by all users from the academic, public, and private sectors, use is subject to special conditions and procedures. Materials from the archives collections must be used in a special reading room where use is monitored by an attendant.Maher 1992, 126–127Use can be defined as the retrieval of information from archival and manuscript holdings, finding aids, reference tools, and staff memories. Regardless of purpose, such as administrative action, publication of a book, preparation of a course paper, genealogy, or personal curiosity, any retrieval of information should be considered as use.Duff 1994, 105–106Eastwood’s suggestion that archivists develop a new social theory of appraisal incorporates all four categories of uses: use by the record creator, use by those requiring an accounting of an [sic] individuals or organizations actions, use by scholars, and all other uses.Cross 1997, 6Use may be either direct or indirect. Direct use is by researchers who seek information to fill a need and who actually access the material in some way; indirect use is by those who derive some benefit from the results of such work.Jimerson 2009, 65Unpublished documents thus served two very different purposes. One use provided formal records of government, business, religion, and other societal institutions. The other contributed to the formulation and transmission of culture, knowledge, and learning.Millar 2010, 184The archivist’s first reference responsibility is to make the holdings in her care available for use. At a bare minimum, this means providing the space and services necessary to allow people to come into the institution and access archives in person.Purcell 2015, 181Supporting research is the lifeblood of archives programs. The use of archival materials by in-person and virtual researchers supports the purpose of archives to collect, arrange, describe, maintain, and provide long-term access to documentary information.Parker, Pike, and Novara 2016, 95Patrons that cannot come to campus to view the materials can request files for individual use.Sye 2022, 1While the use of digital collections has increased in the past two decades, not all physical collections can be digitized, necessitating students and historians to still visit archives in person.the utilization of archival resources beyond information-seeking and research purposesWilliams et al. 1977, 338Its collecting and conservation activities are balanced by equal commitments to research the collections and to impart knowledge of the community to the community through the intelligent use of the collections in the preparation of exhibitions, publications, lectures, tours, historical dramas, and other educational undertakings.La Force 1980, 47Here the objective is to look beyond “use” in the elementary sense—directly seeking and deriving information from archival material. Instead, the focus turns to ultimate users and beneficiaries—“people who may never visit an archives but utilize archival information indirectly.”Dearstyne 1987, 80Here the objective is to look beyond “use” in the elementary sense—directly seeking and deriving information from archival material. Instead, the focus turns to ultimate users and beneficiaries—“people who may never visit an archives but utilize archival information indirectly.”Dowler 1988, 75There are a variety of uses for research materials, some of which are for commercial gain; archivists should profit, or at least not be excluded from profiting, when collections are used for frankly commercial purposes.Hodson 2004, 208When considering the papers of well-known figures, in contrast, copyright quite often emerges as a factor. In the case of actors and similar celebrities, the use of their image or likeness might be protected by copyright.Lacher-Feldman 2013, 14We strive to include a variety of interesting artifacts and memorabilia to add texture and color to the displays. These usually include pennants, T-shirts, pom-poms, and equipment. Special Collections has consciously acquired some artifacts specifically for use in the exhibits in William and Mary Hall.Dryden 2014a, 43Unfortunately, conditions placed on further uses are often linked to copyright, even though controls are intended to ensure attribution, generate revenue, or track use. Archives should re-examine their policies on reuse of holdings to make sure they are not invoking copyright in ways that present a barrier to the use of online documentary heritage.DLF 2018, 2For the purposes of this study, the project team defined use as “discovering and browsing objects in a digital library, often described as “clicks” or “downloads,” without knowing the specific context for this use.” They also provided examples of assessing for use, including: basic web analytics such as number of downloads (unmediated), web traffic information, ip address location, referrals from specific sites, etc.DACS 2019, 54Give information about copyright status and any other conditions governing the reproduction, publication, and further use (e.g., display, public screening, broadcast, etc.) of the unit being described after access has been provided.Oestreicher 2020, 115Once access policies have been determined and materials have been provided, the focus turns to use, whether for private or public purposes. Within this context, “use” is defined as how a researcher utilizes materials beyond the immediate control of the archives, such as for private study, publishing, exhibits, licensing, or similar purposes.Zamon 2024, 10–11Policies and procedures regarding use by researchers and other patrons should address access to collections—including remote reference if your institution offers it—as well as policies and procedures for collection use—including reproduction, privacy, confidentiality, copyright, and licensing.
