What Is the Use of Archives? A Challenge for the Profession

Archivists need to reconsider and develop new approaches to the important issue of the use of archival material. Six approaches to this challenge are suggested and discussed: developing better means of tracking research use; improving procedures for interpreting and reporting on that use; promoting increased research use; emphasizing use as a means of garnering program support; reaching out to the user community for assistance in dealing with certain archival issues; and expanding the concept of reference service to a broader notion of researcher service or public service.