Advances in technology created better access to archive collections and an increased usage of email and digital documents allowed more communication between academic archivists and university administrators. 

Technological Advances for Academic Archives

Some academic archive programs were integrated into larger departments due to the concern for resource management in some libraries. In many libraries, materials can be found in one room or website rather than in many different spaces. 

Merged Academic Archives Programs

For academic archives, there is always the challenge of allocating resources. One method to deal with shrinking resources include fundraising, renovating storage areas and creating new collection areas, and making new programs.  

Shrinking Resources in Academic Libraries

Many records management programs are either working with or have merged with academic archives in order to cut costs and save resources. 


Need for Closer Cooperation with Records Management

In the past, academic archives were less visited areas on campus libraries where only scholars went to. In recent years, other departments including technical and reference services in the library have gotten involved with giving access to materials from the archive.

Overlap of Academic Archival Work with Other Professions

Many academic archives are striving to gather materials from a larger amount of perspectives than only the official records from their own institutions. Some programs will actively gather documents from students and faculty, as well as historical materials from nearby communities. 

Wider Range of Academic Archival Materials Available

Several of the following factors have contributed to expanding the definition of academic archives in the past two decades:
- Technological advances
- Merged archives programs
- Shrinking resources in academic libraries
- Need for closer cooperation with records management
- Overlap of archival work with other professions
- Wider range of archival materials available

New York University

Archives located in colleges, universities, and other educational institutions; they preserve institutional history and serve the academic communities

Academic Archives

Purcell, A. D. (2012). Academic Archives: Managing the Next Generation of College and University Archives, Records, and Special Collections. Neal-Schuman.

Academic Archives Reference

Archivists who work in academic archives to provide materials for students, researchers, administrators, and the public. 

Academic Archivist

Factors in Broadening the Definition of Academic Archives

Special collections include older or rare books and documents that require more care and are usually located in areas with limited access in order to preserve them. Each of these departments started from donors and book dealers and are maintained by special collection librarians. 

Special Collections in Academic Archives

The campus needs to collect and preserve institutional materials. Both the academic library and the administration needs to agree to the creation of an archive program, and then they can create an official document to establish the program.

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