Archivists call the work of appraising, preserving, arranging and describing new collections processing. Processing a collection makes it available to users.

Appraisal

• Determining the historical value or significance of a group of records. Evaluating what material will be added to the archives.

Accession

• Adding materials to an archives collection. Involves a gift agreement with the donor and the legal transfer of custody.

Arrangement

• Organizing a collection into series, boxes, and folders.

Description

• Writing the finding aid--a guide to the collection and an overview of the collection materials.

Preservation

• Conservation treatments or digitizing for materials that are fragile or at-risk.

A document that describes an archival collection and helps guide users through how to use the collection.

Collection information:

• Title, abstract dates span, origin. 

Access and use:

• Copyright status, other permission restrictions

Subjects & Related Names:

• People or organizations represented in the collection.

Biographical/Historical Note:

• Background information on the individual or group represented in the collection materials.

Scope/Content Note:

• an overall description of the collection, including its length, date span and a summary of each series

Box List:

• List of series, boxes, and folders