Information is one of the oldest and most powerful resources created by
the human race. Archives contain information and are a great national
resource as they document the history and identity of communities nationwide.
They also protect the interests of individuals, organisations, and society
in general. Archival material is generally over thirty years old and is
often paper-based, however, other media can include vellum and parchment,
photographs, slides, maps, plans and drawings, film, video, and sound
recordings. The main objective of the archivist is to manage archival
material ensuring its long-term protection, preservation and accessibility.
Statutory provision for the protection of local authority archives was introduced for the first time in Ireland with the passing of the Local Government Act in 1994. This Act was updated in 2001.
