Introduction

All archives need to install certain safeguards against threats, both to the records themselves and to the people working in the building, both public and staff. This chapter looks at the main threats and ways of mitigating them; they include:

Security

Security is ‘the very essence of a repository’ (Kitching, 1993, 33) and must be taken very seriously. Breaches of security are potential threats to the validity of the documents stored in an archive, since loss of custody could jeopardize authenticity. But physical security installations are not enough. They must go hand in hand with good security procedures to ensure the maximum protection possible, always bearing in mind the need for access to the building by the public. A balance must be struck between fortress-like security and permitting rights of access to information. Not all security precautions need apply to the whole building and where archives form only a section of a building this must be recognized. Selecting the appropriate level of security for each part is important, as overprovision results in irritation and delay, as well as possible reliance on installations where better or tighter procedures might provide a preferable solution. To ensure that the measures are appropriate a risk assessment must be carried out; no two archives will face exactly the same problems. A major issue, common to all archives, libraries and museums, is that staff are a greater risk to the organization and its holdings than members of the public. This is an uncomfortable truth, but one which must be taken into account when considering appropriate security measures and procedures.