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archival medium, archival or archive - What's in a name?



Title: archival medium, archival or archive - What's in a name?

Dear, Colleagues

In my research on microfilm longevity I had the pleasure of reading several ISO Standards. One being ISO 18919 first edition 1999-08-01 IMAGING MATERIALS-THERMALLY PRODUCED SILVER MICROFILM-SPECIFICATIONS FOR STABILITY, and the second being ISO 10602 Second Edition 1995-02-01 PHOTOGRAPHY-PROCESSED SILVER -GELATIN TYPE BLACK & WHITE FILM -SPECIFICATION FOR STABILITY.

The item which took my eye in both documents, was item 3. Definitions.

3.1 archival medium: A recording material that can be expected to retain information forever so that it can be retrieved without significant loss when properly stored.

NOTE 1 : There is, however, no such material and it is not a term used in International Standards or system specifications.

I also note that the term archival is no longer politically correct and no longer in use and has been replaced by the term: life expectancy [LE] and LE designation as LE-10, LE-100, LE-500 etc, item numbers 3.2 & 3.3  respectively and storage conditions as extended-term storage conditions and medium-term storage conditions items 3.4. & 3.5.

I also received several responses from persons on the Listserv's in regard to my earlier posting re microfilm longevity, advising me that the term archival was no longer in vogue and had now been replaced by the terms life expectancy [LE], either extended-term or medium-term.

If we take ISO as being the definitive arbiter in respect to terminology in this area or profession, would it not also be true that in situations related to the term archival that we should expect that this term be replaced with the term life expectancy [LE-??], in either extended-term or medium-term storage conditions.

If we take this situation as fact, how do we manage the term archive? I have searched the ISO web site and found no Standards referring to archive or archival.

If the term archival is now not acceptable in the case in ISO speak, where does that leave the term archive?

If we follow the logic of the above mentioned terminology environment through to its logical conclusion, then, would it not also be fact that in ISO language or to be politically correct that where terminology or names of organisations which include the word archive, should they now be reclassified to read e.g. NARA "National Archives and Records Administration" which under the ISO Standards or System specifications the term archive would seem to be a misnomer and that the new tile for NARA should now read  "National keeper of objects with life expectancy of up to LE-??,  with extended or medium-term storage conditions and Records Administration" or archivists as keepers of objects with life expectancy of up to LE-??, with extended or medium-term storage conditions or some other variation of the ISO correct terminology.

Confusing?

Please enlighten me on the matter.

Regards, Laurie

Mr Daniel Lawrance [Laurie] Varendorff, ARMA

A Records Management Professional, and proud of the fact

Consultant/Trainer/Tutor/Presenter: Records and Information Management

Imaging and Micrographic Specialist: 26 years experience

The Varendorff Consultancy

ABN: 77 836 801 165

27 Ronneby Rd, Lesmurdie, Western Australia 6076 - AUSTRALIA

PHONE: + 61 [08] 9291 6925 - MOBILE: + 61 0417 094 147

EMAIL: Laurie.Varendorff@Bigpond.com