Mission statement and background
“The mission of the University of British Columbia Archives is to serve as the institution’s corporate memory by identifying, preserving and making available for use the University’s permanently valuable records…”
Archives Mandate
The mission of the University of British Columbia Archives is to serve as the institution’s corporate memory by identifying, preserving and making available for use the University’s permanently valuable records.
In the pursuit of this mission, the University Archives acquires the corporate records (regardless of physical form or characteristics) created, received or accumulated by University officers or employees in the course of their duties on behalf of the institution. To augment the information in the University’s corporate records, the Archives acquires the private papers of selected faculty members, administrators and alumni, as well as the records of independent student, alumni and employee organizations. The Archives helps facilitate the efficient management of the institution’s records through its coordination of the University’s records management program. The University Archives serves the institution in a public relations capacity by disseminating information about the development of the institution to interested individuals at the University and beyond and promotes academic research through the provision of reference services and the preparation of finding aids and other specialized research tools.
(Approved by University Archives and Records Management Advisory Committee, January 1996)
Background
The scope of activities and responsibilities assigned to the University Archives have been articulated in policies passed by the Board of Governors on the University Archives and on Records Management.
In addition to serving in a stewardship capacity for the institution’s permanently valuable records, the University Archives also facilitates the effective management of the current corporate records by providing records management services to the University community.
Records Management Program
The Records Management Office (RMO) provides a unified approach to records management, supports overall effective information management, and leads the transition to electronic records management at UBC in an efficient, secure, and sustainable manner. The RMO is dedicated to assisting all staff and faculty to improve their record keeping practices, ensuring that records are retained securely, in a cost effective way, while meeting compliance requirements.
Visit the Records Management Office website for more information.
A Content Advisory: Harmful Language
As custodians of historical records, we acknowledge our crucial role in maintaining the integrity of archival materials while balancing the harm that hurtful or offensive language may cause. Recognizing this, we have applied the following to guide the appropriate handling of such content:
Promote Awareness: We advise researchers to approach archival records with an awareness that historical materials often include language no longer considered appropriate or respectful.
Proactive Measures: We take the responsibility of addressing potentially harmful language seriously. While we retain the historical language used by record creators, we also provide warnings on our descriptions and regularly review older descriptions. This proactive approach underscores our commitment to maintaining an inclusive and respectful archive.
Language Usage: When crafting new descriptions or revising existing ones, we strive to use respectful language that does not perpetuate harm or offence. This includes avoiding the use of derogatory terms or stereotypes.
Open Dialogue: We welcome researchers to engage in an open dialogue with us if they encounter language in archival descriptions that they believe requires updating or revision. Your feedback is very important in making sure our archival descriptions reflect our commitment to inclusivity and accuracy.
Support: Our colleagues in Rare Books and Special Collections have developed resources and tools for self-care and graciously allowed us to share them.