Comparison Chart of Functions and Responsibilities of
Archives, Libraries, and Museums

Category	Archival Collections	Library Collections	Museum Artifacts & Collections
Nature of collection	Unpublished, unique, groups of related items, significance related to other items	Published, available elsewhere, independent separate and individual items	Unique artifacts or objects that support broad collection themes
How materials are received	Considered and selected as a group	Selected as single items	Considered and selected as both single items and a group
How materials are arranged	Original order maintained if possible; archivist-determined arrangement otherwise	Pre-determined subject classification system already established	Original order sometimes maintained; established by curator
How materials are organized and described	As record groups (collection of items)	As individual items	As individual items and as groups of items
How information about materials is provided	Guides, finding aids, inventories, indexes, online systems	Standardized descriptive information is available through a card or online public access catalog	Inventories and catalog entries through a card or online catalog
How materials are accessed and secured	Closed stacks, restricted access; items do not leave the archives' premises; special procedures allow researchers access while ensuring safety of records	Open stacks, most items may leave the library's premises	Restricted access, items usually available through exhibits, items do not leave the museum's premises except by special arrangement (loans to other institutions)
What items within collections are known as	Archival records, documents, manuscripts, ephemera	Books, magazines, maps, audio and video tapes	Artifacts, tangible objects
What those who care for the collections are known as professionally	Archivist	Librarian	Curator