Redefining the Role of College and University Archives in the Information Age

Abstract

Academic administrators rely on archival records for a variety of administrative, legal, financial, and historical reasons. In fact, the primary mission of many college and university archives is to manage these non-current records. In an era of increasing fiscal constraint and limited resources, accurate analysis of the use of archival information by university administrators is crucial to the development of successful, responsive archival programs. The authors believe the administrative use of archival records is an understudied aspect of archival administration. This study examines the information environment on modern campuses, explores the evolving roles of traditional and emerging information sites, examines the information use patterns of academic administrators, and proposes methods for improved information service in the modern academic environment.