Definition

The process of identifying materials that no longer merit preservation and that are candidates for deaccessioning.

Source: Richard Pearse-Moses, A glossary of archival and records terminology. Chicago: Society of American Archivists.

Introduction

Reappraisal is the process of evaluating portions of the Archives Permanent Collection to determine whether materials previously selected for preservation continue to have sufficient archival value to justify remaining in the Archives Permanent Collection. Reappraisal is similar to archival appraisal, but also takes into account factors including, but not limited to:

Deterioration of the material since accessioning
Damage of the material
Usage of the material
Significance of the material in relation to other similar acquisitions
Revised estimates of storage and preservation costs

Reappraisal results in a new assessment of the archival value of the material. Material no longer deemed to have sufficient archival value to justify preservation as part of the Archives Permanent Collection is deaccessioned.

Related terms

Archival appraisal

Archival value

Archives Permanent Collection

Deaccession

Deaccessioning