Mix Two Parts Interest to One Part Information and Appraise Until Done: Understanding Contemporary Record Selection Processes

Over the past several years archivists have discussed a wide range of institutional and extra-institutional policies that affect the appraisal of records. This article attempts to conceptualize how the appraisal process operates and the various appraisal tools fit together. It concludes by discussing the efficacy of current archival vocabulary in accurately portraying what archivists do when they appraise.