Strategic Plan and Priorities, 2007-2012, revised 2012
Vision
To be recognized as one of the world's finest university archives through supporting research, teaching and learning and knowledge transfer
Mission
According to University Regulations, 'The Archives is responsible for the University's own historical records and is also a national collecting archive which develops, preserves, exhibits and provides access to its collections in support of the University's teaching and research programs and community development agenda.' (Regulation 8.1.R1, 2001)
In light of this Regulation, and in support of our vision, our mission is:
- to achieve a visible, known, accessible and relevant archival collection, and
- to increase direct and indirect use of the collections, and
- to do this in ways that meet national and international best practice, and which excel in the eyes of our researchers, stakeholders and professional colleagues.
Values and Guiding Principles
Staff of the Archives are committed to the values and guiding principles of the University and the University Library. In addition, we value:
- the archival records we manage, preserve and make accessible;
- a safe secure archival repository;
- minimal and non-discriminatory, though fully respected, restrictions on use of collections;
- advocacy for archives which recognizes the importance of institutional collecting while supporting other approaches to archival preservation and use (e.g. community and family archiving, partnerships and digital collections);
- service to all our depositors and researchers;
- a commitment to promote the wider cultural value of archival collections in support of the University's knowledge transfer agenda ;
- the 'Archivists' Mission' and code of ethics issued by the Australian Society of Archivists; and
- integration of archival management with better recordkeeping, where appropriate.
Stakeholders
We recognize our key stakeholders to be:
- the University
- our depositors and their representatives
- our researchers
- the Archives Advisory Board
- other relevant collecting archives, and
- given our 'Place of Deposit' status, the Public Record Office Victoria.
Strategic Priorities, 2007-2012
While striving to exceed existing levels of service to researchers and depositors, our key priorities for the next 5 years are to:
- improve means for securing funding to increase our resource base;
- revise collection development policies;
- provide comprehensive on line access to collection lists;
- foster increased use of the collections by University of Melbourne scholars, teachers and students, while maintaining existing services to users from other universities and the public;
- replace the current collection management system based on accessions with one based on record series and record-creating entities;
- initiate an archival program for born-digital electronic records and digitized collections and strengthen links with University and external partners to implement this program.
Additional Strategic Priorities 2012
- increase the amount and accessibility of digital content
- develop and implement a communications plan and outreach program
December 2011