Perceptions and Understandings of Archives in the Digital Age

Archivists have investigated public perceptions of archives through a variety of means, including the recording of anecdotes, surveys of those both within and outside of the profession, and most commonly through the examination of representations of archives and archivists in writing, television, and motion pictures. Archivists have also devoted a significant amount of research to evolving digital technologies, most notably the Internet, resultant changes in the information-seeking habits of the public, and the influence of these developments on the archival profession. Drawing on both bodies of research, this study set out to ascertain the public image and understanding of the profession and to begin to identify possible links between these perceptions and use of digital technologies. The article discusses the results of a survey of the Western Washington University campus community designed to identify possible correlations between Internet usage, other means of encountering archives, and perce...