Managing heritage: A study of archival collections handling practices at Botswana National Archives and Records Services

Abstract

Archival institutions worldwide face the challenge of collection deterioration through the handling and use of archives, inadequate or lack of records management standards and noncompliance with archival legislations. This study aimed at assessing the handling practices and use of archival collections in Botswana. The study adopted the pragmatist paradigm and consequently used questionnaires, interviews, and observations to collect data. The study sample consisted of sixteen (16) Botswana National Archives and Records Services (BNARS) staff purposively selected for interview and 297 BNARS users randomly selected to complete the questionnaire. The findings revealed that, although the staff of the surveyed institution demonstrated reasonable commitment to collection care or preservation of archives, and BNARS does not consistently respond to proper collection care and compliance programme.Furthermore, the study revealed that inappropriate handling and use of archives practices, lack of training in preservation, inadequate supervision of the study area, and failure to enforce compliance to archives legislations contribute to archives collection deterioration. The study recommended that the development of guidelines on good handling practices, preservation policy, handling manual, compliance programme, among others.