Accessing the RMIT archives collection 7.21.1.5

Definitions

Access - The granting of permission to:

1. Use the reference facilities of RMIT Archives;

2. Examine and study individual archives and records, or collections held by the RMIT Archives; and

3. Extract information from archives and records for research or publication.

Agency - A body, business, organisation, or institution, that creates and/or manages its own records in the course of its business or activities. In the case of RMIT University, an agency might be a group, division, faculty, department, centre, service, or office.Archives - Records appraised as having continuing value. Traditionally the term has been used to describe records no longer required for current use that have been selected for permanent preservation. Also referred to as permanent records.

Collection - An accumulation (usually artificial) of documents or papers of any provenance brought together on the basis of some common characteristic (eg. subject or means of transfer, or medium).

Custody - The responsibility for the care of records, or archives, that is based usually on their physical possession. Custody does not always include legal ownership, or the right to control access to records.

Personal Information - Information which allows an individual to be identified or can be reasonably ascertained from that information or opinion. It can appear in any form and be recorded on any medium. Records Recorded information, in any form, including data in computer systems, created or received and maintained by an organisation or person in the transaction of business or the conduct of affairs and kept as evidence of such activity.

Reference - The range of activities involved in providing information from or about records and archives such as making records and archives available for access and providing copies or reproductions of records and archives.

Reference Service - Facilities and services that enables the user to use the records once access to them is approved.

User - An individual consulting records held in the custody of RMIT Archives. Also referred to as researcher.

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