Policies

Our policies are available below:

Access to Collections Policy

This policy sets out the basis on which we provide access to the collections in our care.

ARC Access to Collections Policy 2023 (PDF , 222kb)

Appraisal and Disposal Policy

This policy sets out how we approach the selection of records for permanent preservation and how we approach the disposal of records we deem of no further value to our mission and purpose.

BIA Appraisal and Disposal Policy 2024 (PDF , 188kb)

Collections Care and Conservation Policy

This policy sets out how the Borthwick cares for the Archives in the Borthwick Institute and Rare Books in the University Library Rare Books section.

ARC Collections Care and Conservation Policy 2023 (PDF , 153kb)

Collections Development Policy

This policy sets out how we develop our archive holdings, including what we collect, how we make decisions on what we collect and the terms on which we collect archives.

BIA Collections Development Policy 2024 (PDF , 148kb)

Collections Information Policy

This policy sets out what researchers can expect in relation to the information we provide about the archives in our care.

BIA Collections Information Policy 2022 (PDF , 138kb)

Collections Management Policy

This policy sets out how archives are managed within Archives and Research Collections (including the Borthwick Institute for Archives). It is a high level policy explaining the principles underlying our management of the archives in our care. The policy is supported by method statements that explain the processes and practices that flow from the archives management principles.

ARC Collections Management Policy 2023 (PDF , 189kb)

Digital Preservation Policy

This policy outlines how we acquire and care for born-digital and digitised objects in the care of the Borthwick Institute.

ARC Digital Preservation Policy 2023 (PDF , 148kb)

Digitisation Policy

This policy describes how and why we digitise records.

ARC Digitisation Policy 2024 (PDF , 247kb)

Teaching, Learning and Outreach Policy

This policy sets out how we engage in learning activities in and beyond the University of York, with users of collections and with fellow collection holders.

ARC Teaching, Learning and Outreach Policy 2024 (PDF , 131kb)

Volunteering Policy

This policy explains the working of the volunteer programme for staff, volunteers and prospective volunteers.

ARC Volunteering Policy 2024 v2 (PDF , 110kb)

Web Archiving Policy

This policy outlines the Borthwick Institute for Archives’ strategy for the archiving of selected websites and their content. These archiving activities occur in collaboration with website owners and the appropriate copyright holders, where applicable.

Web archiving policy (PDF , 100kb)

Work Experience Placements Policy

This policy explains the working of the work experience placement programme, and how this differs from our volunteering programme.

ARC Work Experience Placements Policy 2024 (PDF , 159kb)

Privacy Notice

This privacy notice explains what you can expect us to do with your personal information when you make contact with us or use one of our services.

Definitions of terms

This document provides a guide to terms used in policies and other documentation created by the Borthwick Institute. Where a term has an accepted meaning the source for this meaning is given. Where possible we use terms recognised by the International Council on Archives.

BIA Guide to Definitions of Terms 2024 (PDF , 134kb)

History of Collections Information at the Borthwick Institute

This guide supplements the Collections Information Policy, giving an account of the development of the provision of finding aids at the Borthwick and the current approach to the preparation of finding aids.

BIA History of Collections Information at the Borthwick Institute (PDF , 131kb)