Archives vs. Libraries
A Comparison of Materials

There are fundamental differences between an archive and a library that are most apparent when considering the differences in the materials collected by each.  The differences in collections are distinguished using the following categories: 

Nature

LIBRARIES:
Published
Discrete items
Independent significance
Available elsewhere

ARCHIVES:
Unpublished
Groups of related items
Significance from relationship to other items
Unique

Creator

LIBRARIES:
Many different individuals or organizations

ARCHIVES:
Parent organization or institution

Method of Creation

LIBRARIES:
Separate, independent actions

ARCHIVES:
Organic - normal course of business

Method of Receipt

LIBRARIES:
Selected as single items
Decisions revocable

ARCHIVES:
Appraised in aggregate
Decisions irrevocable (destruction is forever)

Arrangement

LIBRARIES:
Predetermined subject classification

ARCHIVES:
Provenance and original order (relation to structure and function)

Level of Description

LIBRARIES:
Individual items

ARCHIVES:
Aggregate (record group or series)

Descriptive Media

LIBRARIES:
Built into the published item (title page, table of contents, index)
Card catalog, online public access system (OPAC)

ARCHIVES:
Must be prepared by the archivist
Guides and inventories, online systems

Access

LIBRARIES:
Open stacks
Items circulate

ARCHIVES:
Closed stacks
Items do not circulate