1. Mission Statement
2. Policy Statements of Responsibility
3. Site and Buildings
4. Security
5. Archives Storage
6. Access
7. Conservation and Preservation
8. Digital Preservation
9. Housekeeping
10. Environmental Monitoring
11. Environmental Control
12. Disaster Recovery and Continuity
13. Policy Context and Links
14. Review
1. Mission Statement
The Richard Burton Archives is the corporate memory and archive repository of Swansea University and holds material of local, regional and national significance. The Archives selects, preserves and makes accessible to all the records of historical value created or acquired by the University. Through its holdings and the expertise of its staff the Archives actively supports the mission of the University to provide an environment of research excellence, to deliver an outstanding student experience with teaching of the highest quality, and to enrich the community and cultural life of Wales and beyond.
2. Policy Statements of Responsibility
2.1 The Archives aims to preserve Swansea University’s archive collection and make it accessible for current and future generations.
2.2 The Archives meets the current standards for its facilities as outlined by BS4971:2017 and EN16893:2018.
2.3 The Archives takes measures to slow deterioration and prevent damage to the material it holds.
2.4 The Archives provides systems to monitor, and takes measures to improve, the state of the environments, buildings and the material it holds.
3. Site and Buildings
3.1 The University maintains appropriate levels of care for the building fabric and maintains appropriate levels of insurance.
3.2 Key systems, including water detection, fire and security are regularly tested, inspected and serviced in line with University procedures.
3.3 Public access to the Archives is maintained via the entrance to Singleton Park Library, Singleton Park Campus.
4. Security
4.1 The Archives maintains a high level of the security for the collections. Security alarms and sensors are fitted throughout the buildings. Opening windows are security locked.
4.2 CCTV and security are provided by the University’s Estates and Campus Services security services and are operated 24 hours a day.
4.3 Arrangements exist for restricting entry to designated areas using keypad and swipe card technology. Visitors and non-Special Collections staff must be accompanied by a member of staff from the Archives.
4.4 Back up arrangements are in place for locks in the event of power failure.
4.5 PIR movement detectors are fitted in the reading room, lobby, staff corridor and staff offices.
5. Archives Storage Space
5.1 The Archives storage facilities are maintained in line with BS4971:2017 and EN16893:2018. The strong rooms are purpose-built windowless repositories with high thermal inertia.
5.2 The Archives aims to maintain suitable storage environments for the range of archival material that it contains. At present the Archives does not have specialist storage for photographic, audio-visual and electronic media.
5.3 Appropriate professional advice is taken with regard to the structural fire protection and prevention, protection against water, security, lighting and shelving.
5.4 The Archives aims to provide collection materials with appropriate conservation grade packaging either on accession, or as part of repackaging programmes, as resources become available.
6. Access
6.1 The Archives staff will ensure that all items in the collection are subject to careful and appropriate handling to minimise the risk of physical damage.
6.2 Any items or surrogates (i.e. copies, replicas) of items in the collection are available to members of the public under staff supervision.
6.3 Where necessary Archives staff will undergo appropriate training in handling of archival collections.
6.4 Written handling guidelines are available for all staff and users of the archives.
7. Conservation and Preservation
7.1 The Archives stabilise the items in their care, both physically and chemically, using preventative measures. There is no in-house conservator but a professional conservation service is contracted to provide advice about remedial treatments and on planning of the long term care of collections.
7.2 All conservation treatments are recorded in the documentation system.
8. Digital Preservation
8.1 Digital assets are stored on University servers, which are professionally managed in line with current University practice but does not currently meet the Open Archival Information System Reference Model.
8.2 The Archives will work with colleagues in Libraries and Collectionsand more widely in Swansea University to ensure that there is appropriate security for information and collections held digitally and work towards meeting the Open Archival Information System Reference Model and other relevant standards.
8.3 The Archives will also work in partnership with external organisations, such as the Digital Preservation Coalition and Archives and Records Council Wales, regarding new approaches to digital preservation and management.
9. Housekeeping
9.1 The Archives arranges for housekeeping tasks including cleaning of public and secure areas in order to minimise the threat to collections from pests, pollution and mould.
9.2 The Archives ensures that all areas are kept clean to the highest standards using products that will not have a detrimental effect on collections.
10. Environmental Monitoring
10.1 The strong rooms temperature and relative humidity are monitored by a radio controlled data logger system linked to the network staff computers. A service agreement is in place for the maintenance of the system and calibration of sensors. Log tags are also used to monitor in box temperature and relative humidity.
10.2 A building management system is in place, maintained and monitored by the University’s Estates and Campus Services. Readouts from the building management system monitoring are online and available to the Archives. Should a major deviation from set points occur an alarm email is sent to 24 hour security for action.
10.3 Light levels are monitored using a Lux meter.
10.4 The Archives has an integrated pest management strategy in place.
10.5 Random condition checks on items are carried out by staff to identify any issues such as pest activity or mould growth which may be caused by an inappropriate environment.
11. Environmental Control
11.1 The Archives has set an environmental specification for the collection in line with requirements of EN16893:2018. The aim is to preserve the collections, slowing down the rate of deterioration by controlling the agents of deterioration.
11.2 The environmental control systems are regularly maintained and monitored.
11.3 Natural light sources are kept to a minimum and artificial lighting levels are controlled. Collections are protected from UV by appropriate measures.
11.4 All items are enclosed in boxes where appropriate to provide a degree of protection against the environment.
11.5 The Archives aims to provide collection materials with appropriate conservation grade packaging either on accession, or as part of repackaging programmes, as resources become available so that the risk of pollutants which could have a detrimental effect on collections is minimised.
12. Disaster Recovery and Continuity
12.1 The Archives maintains an up to date Incident Management Plan in line with the University’s Incident Management Plan. The plan outlines an effective emergency response and salvage of collections following a major incident.
12.2 The University will liaise with all emergency services to make them aware of the Archives layout, importance of the collections and the salvage priorities in the event of an emergency.
12.3 Appropriate business continuity planning is in place in Swansea University to ensure overall organisational resilience.
13. Policy Context and Links
This Collections Care and Conservation Policy is part of a comprehensive collections management strategy for the Richard Burton Archives.
Other relevant policies include:
• Collections Information
• Collections Access
• Collections Development
• Collections Management
• Digital Preservation
14. Review
This policy was approved in September 2021. It will be reviewed in September 2024 or earlier if circumstances dictate.