# archival appraisal

> process of examining a body of records to determine its value for an archival library

**Wikidata**: [Q635863](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q635863)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archival_appraisal)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/archival-appraisal

## Summary
Archival appraisal is the process of examining a body of records to determine its value for an archival library. It is a fundamental activity within the field of archival science, serving as the primary mechanism for assessing which materials warrant long-term preservation. This practice is distinct from simple selective retention and is executed by professionals such as archivists and records managers.

## Key Facts
- **Definition:** The process of examining a body of records to determine its value for an archival library.
- **Classification:** It is an instance of "activity" and a subclass of "assessment."
- **Field of Study:** It is a core component and class of **archival science**, defined as the science of storage and registration of historic data.
- **Practitioners:** The process is practiced by **archivists** and **records managers**.
- **Distinction:** While sometimes used as a synonym, strictly defined, it is "different from" **selective retention**.
- **Global Identifiers:** The concept is tracked under UNESCO Thesaurus ID `concept10493` and Google Knowledge Graph ID `/g/12319c6y`.
- **Terminology:** Alternate names include "records appraisal," "évaluation (archives)," and "conservation sélective."

## FAQs
### Q: What is the primary goal of archival appraisal?
A: The primary goal is to examine a body of records to determine their value, specifically deciding which materials should be retained by an archival library.

### Q: Who is responsible for conducting archival appraisal?
A: This activity is performed by information professionals, specifically archivists and records managers.

### Q: How does archival appraisal relate to archival science?
A: Archival appraisal is a specific activity and class within the broader discipline of archival science, which encompasses the storage and registration of historic data.

## Why It Matters
Archival appraisal is a critical function in the management of information because it serves as the primary filter for history. Without appraisal, archival facilities would become overwhelmed with undifferentiated data, rendering the storage and registration of historic data unmanageable. By determining the value of records, this process ensures that only materials with enduring significance, legal necessity, or historical importance are preserved for the future. This selective process directly impacts the historical record, defining what information remains available to researchers, scholars, and the public while managing the finite resources of archival libraries. It transforms a raw accumulation of documents into a curated, accessible collection.

## Notable For
- Being a core subclass of **assessment** within the domain of archival science.
- Its distinction from **selective retention**, highlighting that appraisal is an evaluation process rather than just the act of keeping items.
- Having a dedicated entry in the **UNESCO Thesaurus** (concept10493), signifying its international recognition in library and information science.
- Being a multilingual concept with dedicated terminology and Wikipedia entries across English, French, German, Portuguese, and Catalan.

## Body
### Definition and Classification
Archival appraisal is formally defined as the process of examining a body of records to determine its value for an archival library. It is classified taxonomically as a **subclass of assessment** and is considered a distinct **instance of activity**. While the term "selective retention" appears in some contexts as an alias, structured data indicates that appraisal is **different from** selective retention, suggesting a technical distinction between the evaluation process (appraisal) and the outcome of keeping specific items.

### Relationship to Archival Science
This entity functions as a critical sub-component of **archival science**. Archival science is defined as the science of storage and registration of historic data. Appraisal is the specific mechanism through which the input for this storage is evaluated. It ensures that the "body of records" accepted into an archive aligns with the library's scope and historical mandates. It is listed as a "class" under the broader umbrella of archival science.

### Professional Practice and Terminology
The practice is specific to the information governance sector. The designated practitioners are **archivists** and **records managers**. The concept is lexically diverse, with multiple aliases reflecting its global application:
- **English:** appraisal, records appraisal
- **French:** évaluation (archives), tri, évaluation prospective, conservation sélective
- **Spanish:** evaluación de los documentos, valoración de los documentos
- **Czech:** oceňování archiválií

### Reference Identifiers
The concept is well-established in major knowledge bases:
- **Wikidata:** Item associated with 6 sitelinks.
- **Google Knowledge Graph:** `/g/12319c6y`
- **Freebase:** `/m/02vw7x8`
- **Library of Congress:** `preservation/eventType/app`
- **Dictionary of Archives Terminology:** ID `appraisal` (section 1)

## References

1. [Source](https://saxarchiv.hypotheses.org/16794)
2. [Source](https://saxarchiv.hypotheses.org/24061)