Establishing educational archives...preserving the permanent records...

Archivists must also consider incorporating the use of transcription as well as physical copying or scanning methods in order to help ensure the preservation of original permanent records. This could include the use of photocopied representations or traditional photographic copies on film, microform copying, or, in this era of digital copying, digital photography or digital scanning.

Establishing educational archives...preserving the permanent records...

Guidelines are also required in order to regularize the use of preservation materials for original copies. Consideration should be given to the use of suitable protective archive boxes, as well as acid-free paper wrappers, acid-free card or plastic folders and document sleeves. Archivists must link the use of these record boxes, folders, wrappers or sleeves to the evaluation of any pre-existing folds or bindings on the original records that have been assigned for permanent storage.

Establishing educational archives...perserving the permanent records...

The success of the preservation of permanent records can depend on access to suitable storage areas, such as rooms with appropriate load-bearing floors plus atmospheric factors that help to prevent physical degradation exemplified by light damage, the build-up of dust or the growth of mould, as well as safe shelving and compactus systems.

Educational archives...establishing guidelines for preservation...

One of the most important tasks for the educational archivist is the development of policies and procedures that support the preservation of a collection of permanent records. In addition to the introduction of systematic methods for the appraisal of records, and the associated creation of a disposal schedule capable of outlining procedures for the identification and storage of permanent and temporary records, educational records managers and archivists should outline the schemes that could be used in order to ensure that different forms of permanent records could be protected in storage and accessed. This could include the use of physical storage systems for original copies as well as electronic copying techniques for those original copies.