Expanding the Foundation

The archival profession today is doubly challenged. Not only must we deal with dramatic increases in the volume and complexity of paper records, we must also develop programs and strategies for electronic records. The latter, in particular, will require years of research, analysis, testing, and development. However, the resources needed to support years of intensive work in multiple archival settings are not present. The author contends that the profession's most pressing need is the development of greater infrastructure to support research efforts, and she offers examples of the types of organizations that we need to foster.