ABSTRACT
Archival appraisal is the analytic process involved in determining how long records are required, thus driving acquisition strategies, and determining the archival record left for the future. Developing as a major archival function during the twentieth century, appraisal has been subject to intensive professional discussion as archivists search for theoretically sound approaches and techniques. The advent of the digital environment has created great challenges for appraisal theory and practice. This entry outlines the purpose and principles underlying appraisal, discusses the development of traditional appraisal practices, identifies professional concerns with traditional appraisal practices, and discusses methodologies and approaches proposed as alternatives to traditional appraisal methods to address digital recordkeeping challenges.
