ABSTRACT
Preservation of archives has been described as ‘the means by which the survival of selected material is ensured for enduring access’ (Forde and Rhys-Lewis, 2013, p. 1). Preservation should inform every activity undertaken in an archive. It encompasses a wide range of managerial, financial and technical considerations, such as security, storage, packaging, handling and conservation, all aimed at making sure that records taken into an archive survive indefinitely. Given the diversity of record types, formats and media that may be found in a business archive, ranging from parchment and paper, to photographic, film and digital materials, it is not surprising that preservation can be a huge challenge. However, it is something that can be done to a greater or lesser degree and a small business archive can therefore establish a policy and procedures in line with its own means and ambitions.
