Libraries vs Archives

Management

Collections are generally managed by archivists or by librarians with archival training

Collections are generally managed by librarians

Often rare and irreplacable if lost or damaged

Generally replaceable if lost or damaged

Items do not circulate and are preserved to ensure future use

Most libraries contain items are availble for checkout and use at home

Published print materials as well as nonprint materials such as DVDs, video games, or CDs

Published and unpublished materials in any format

Preservation

Circulation

Access

Materials

Library

Archives

• Books
• Video games
• Magazines
• Journals
• Household items
• Electronic items
• Toys
• Puzzles
• DVDs
• CDs
• Audiobooks

Libraries may contain:

Lorem ipsum dolor sit

Librarians are professionals who develop and maintain library collections and information resources. Types of librarians include:

• Academic librarians
• School librarians
• Public librarians
• Specialty librarians

Librarians choose and maintain the library's collection based on the needs of those they serve.

Librarians

Lorem ipsum dolor sit

• Manuscripts
• Letters
• Photographs
• Diaries
• Journals
• Artwork
• Moving images
• Sound recordings
• Artifacts
• Offical documents

Archives may contain:

Lorem ipsum dolor sit

Archivists are professionals who preserve, organize, maintain, and provided access to historical documents and records. Materials in archives are retained and preserved based on their having permanent historical value to the institution associated with that archive. Archivists provide the standards and guidelines for how records are organized and stored and how those collections may be used to protect them from physical damage or theft.

Archivists

Lorem ipsum dolor sit

Both libraries and archives are engaged in providing electronic or digitized versions of their materials to provide better access for their patrons. For libraries this could include providing checkout options for ebooks, audiobooks, streaming video, and more. For archives, this includes digitizing photographs, letters, manuscripts and art and allowing patrons access via a website or digital repository.

Digitization

Lorem ipsum dolor sit