Arhivski vjesnik, Vol. 46 No. 1, 2003.
Professional paper
Aim and purpose of the categorisation of records creators
Silvija Babić
Abstract
The article presents a short history of categorisation in Croatian archivistics, indicating changes in methods and changes of categorisation's criteria. Three categorisations are analysed: that of Bernard Stulli, who introduced a categorisation of archives in 1970, after that a categorisation of records preservers, prescribed by Instructions on records appraisal from 1987, and finally a categorisation of records creators, which flows from the Ordinance on appraisal, and procedures of records retention and disposal. A text analyses, in more detailed manner, reasons which led to the recent shift, suggesting, on the basis of these reasons, a new methodological approach which will facilitate a procedure of categorisation. A new approach is based on the method of functional appraisal as currently the most popular appraising method in archival community. This method leads to the definition of archival acquisition policy for everyone amongst the archives, what was basically one of the most important purposes of categorisation.
According to legal definitions and professional archival literature from the past ten years in most of the countries, a purpose of appraisal is recognized in retaining records of continuing value, and not in their retention for the purpose of historical research or other sholarly or cultural reasons as it was defined before. Even less appraisal should mean insuring records for current needs or, as it was expected earlier, for particular political, ideological, religious, private or other interests.
A next purpose of categorisation is that of accentuating creators' obligation to preserve records of continuing value as archives, what should be reached by issuing official orders on categorisation, and by public announcement of them.
And finally, the article indicates problems which could emerge during the implementation of categorisation , trying to find solutions for them.
Keywords
records categorisation; categorisation of records preservers; categorisation of records creators; appraisal; functional appraisal; macroappraisal; acquisition policy
Hrčak ID:
7363
URI
Publication date:
26.3.2004.
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