A STUDY OF THE THEORY OF APPRAISAL FOR SELECTION By ...

accomplished. As Hans Booms has clearly noted, use as an arbiter
of value is riddled with difficulties. The concept of use as
applied to appraisal implies the concept of value. It is
speculative regarding the values of the future, includes the
values of the present, and assumes the values of the past. The
entire approach submerges appraisal in the subjective relativity
of the concept of value and the inevitable dangers of the
distortion of the documentary record. Schellenberg's theory thus
fails to give preeminence to the need for an objective stance by
the archivist, and fails to protect adequately the probative and
archival nature of archives. What is lost in the process is the
moral defence of the archival integrity of the documentary
heritage of society.
Schellenberg identifies primary value as the usefulness of
the records to the creating organization. The value of active
records is temporary, and ends with the semi-active stage of the
life cycle. Primary value is synonymous with the British concept
of administrative value, which identifies records that are
required to support the active administrative, legal and
financial operations of an organization. But, contrary to
British archival traditions, Schellenberg sharply differentiates
primary value from secondary value.
Schellenberg defines secondary value as the use of archival
records by agencies other than the creator, and individual
researchers. These values are lasting historical, research
values that remain long after the current administrative use of
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