User:Benuski/Archive
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
An archive (/ˈɑrkaɪv/)is a collection of historical records, as well as the place they are located.[1] Archives contain primary source documents that have accumulated over the lifetime of a person, family, or organization. The word is derived from the Greek ἀρχή meaning government or order. The word originally developed from the Greek ἀρχεῖον which refers to the home or dwelling of the Archon, in which important official state documents were filed and interpreted under the authority of the Archon.[2] The adjective formed from archive is archival.
In general, archives consist of records that have been selected for permanent or long-term preservation on grounds of their enduring cultural, historical, or evidential value. Archival records are normally unpublished and almost always unique, unlike books or magazines for which many identical copies exist. This means that archival repositories are quite distinct from libraries with regard to their functions and organization, although archival collections can often be found within library buildings.[3]
A person who works in archives is called an archivist. The study and practice of organizing, preserving, and providing access to information and materials in archives is called archival science.
Archivists tend to prefer the term "archives" (with an S) as the correct term to serve as both the singular and plural, since "archive," as a noun or a verb, has acquired meanings related to computer science.[4]