Lanskoy Grigory N.1 
(Russia)
PROFESSION OF ARCHIVIST IN WORK WITH ARCHIVAL 
DOCUMENTS ON NEW TECHNICAL SUPPORTS: NORMS 
AND PRACTICES 
ABSTRACT
The paper is devoted to analysis of processes of professional activities of archivists in 
sphere of work with documents on button and electronic material supports. This theo-
retical and practical problem is studied in spheres of development of material features 
of these documents, of necessary skills in work with them and in conditions of changes in 
normative and in technological sphere objectively oriented to new types of archival sys-
tems and documents included in them. In theoretical part of the paper, the main attention 
is on the analysis of understanding of many objects in archival sphere after appearance of 
digital technologies in production of visual and audiovisual documents and the beginning 
of development of technologies in forming and presentation of documentary informa-
tion with the use of computer technologies and program equipment. Also, there are pre-
sented specific features of open archival informational systems which become spheres of 
professional activity of specialists without necessary existence in terms of institutionally 
organized archival services. Practical part of the paper will be devoted to presentation of 
new skills necessary for archivists working with documents on new types of material that 
supports particularly the basis of the programs realized in actual professional training in 
higher education institutions in Russia, for example, the Russian State University for the 
Humanities, and in France, the National School of Chartes. In the context of the analysis 
of educational programs, we will analyze compositions of courses devoted to diplomatic 
analysis of documentary texts on new supports, organization of their preservation and 
description according to new generation of international and national standards and to 
the use of digital and other computer technologies in practice of their creation and organ-
ization of public access to them in archival informational systems.
Key words: archival documents, informational systems, digital technologies, profes-
sional skills, new technical supports, computer programs, professional training. 
LA PROFESSIONE DI ARCHIVISTA NEL LAVORO 
CON DOCUMENTI ARCHIVISTICI SUI NUOVI SUPPORTI 
TECNICOLOGICI: NORME E PRACTICHE
SINTESI
Il documento è dedicato all’analisi dei processi di attività professionali degli archivisti 
nell’ambito del lavoro con documenti su supporti di materiale elettronico. Questo proble-
ma teorico e pratico è studiato nell’ambito dello sviluppo delle caratteristiche materiali di 
questi documenti, delle competenze necessarie nel lavorare con essi e nelle condizioni dei 
1 Grigory Lanskoy, Doctor of Historical Sciences, Dean of Faculty of Documentary Sciences and of Technical 
Archives, Professor at the Department for Foreign Regional Studies and External Policy of the Russian 
State University of Human Sciences. gri_lanskoi@list.ru
10 PROFESSION OF ARCHIVIST IN WORK WITH ARCHIVAL DOCUMENTS ON NEW TECHNICAL SUPPORTS:  NORMS AND PRACTICES Lanskoy Grigory N.
cambiamenti nella sfera normativa e tecnologica oggettivamente orientati a nuovi tipi di 
sistemi di archiviazione e documenti ad essi inclusi. Nella parte teorica dell’articolo l’atten-
zione principale è rivolta all’analisi della nuova comprensione di molti oggetti in ambito 
archivistico dopo la comparsa delle tecnologie digitali nella produzione di documenti visivi 
e audiovisivi e dell’inizio dello sviluppo di tecnologie nella formazione e presentazione di 
informazioni documentarie con l’uso di tecnologie informatiche e apparecchiature di pro-
gramma. Sono inoltre presentate caratteristiche specifiche di sistemi informativi d’archivio 
aperti che diventano sfere di attività professionale di specialisti senza l’esistenza necessaria 
in termini di servizi di archiviazione organizzati istituzionalmente. La parte pratica dell’ar-
ticolo sarà dedicata alla presentazione delle nuove competenze che sono necessarie agli 
archivisti nel lavoro con documenti su nuovi tipi di supporti materiali, in particolare sulla 
base dei programmi realizzati nella formazione professionale effettiva in istituti di alta for-
mazione in Russia sull’esempio dell’Università statale russa per le materie umanistiche, ed 
in Francia sull’esempio della Scuola Nazionale di Chartes. Nell’ambito dell’analisi dei pro-
grammi educativi saranno analizzate le composizioni dei corsi dedicati all’analisi diploma-
tica dei testi documentali sui nuovi supporti, all’organizzazione della loro conservazione e 
descrizione secondo la nuova generazione di standard internazionali e nazionali e all’utiliz-
zo delle tecnologie digitali ed informatiche nella pratica della loro creazione ed organizza-
zione dell’accesso pubblico nei sistemi informatici d’archivio.
Parole chiave: documenti d’archivio, sistemi informativi, tecnologie digitali, competenze 
professionali, nuovi supporti tecnici, programmi per computer, formazione professionale
POKLIC ARHIVISTA V DELU Z ARHIVSKIM GRADIVOM 
NA NOVIH TEHNIČNIH NOSILCIH: NORME IN PRAKSE
ABSTRAKT
Prispevek je namenjen analizi procesov poklicne dejavnosti arhivistov na področju dela z 
gradivom na elektronskih nosilcih. Ta teoretični in praktični problem se preučuje na pod-
ročjih razvoja materialnih značilnosti tega gradiva, potrebnih veščin pri delu z njimi ter v 
pogojih sprememb na normativnem in tehnološkem področju, ki je objektivno usmerjen 
v nove vrste arhivskih sistemov in v njih zapisov. V teoretičnem delu prispevka je glavna 
pozornost namenjena analizi razumevanja številnih objektov na arhivskem področju po 
pojavu digitalnih tehnologij pri izdelavi vizualnih in avdiovizualnih zapisov ter začetku 
razvoja tehnologij pri oblikovanju in predstavitvi dokumentarnih informacij z uporabo 
računalniških tehnologij in programske opreme. V prispevku so tudi predstavljene poseb-
nosti odprtih arhivskih informacijskih sistemov, ki postajajo področja poklicne dejavnosti 
strokovnjakov, čeprav slednji morda v okviru institucionalno organizirane arhivske službe 
ne obstajajo. Praktični del prispevka je namenjen predstavitvi novih veščin, ki jih tisti ar-
hivistom, ki delajo z novimi vrstami gradiva, potrebujejo, kar je zajeto programe usposa-
bljanja, ki se izvajajo na visokošolskih zavodih v Rusiji, na primer na Ruski državni univerzi 
za humanistiko ter v Franciji na The École Nationale des Chartes. V okviru analize izobra-
ževalnih programov, je v prispevku podana analiza sestave tečajev, namenjenih diplo-
matski analizi zapisov na novih nosilcih, organizaciji njihovega ohranjanja in opisovanja 
v skladu z novo generacijo mednarodnih in nacionalnih standardov ter uporabi digitalne 
in druge računalniške tehnologije v praksi njihovega ustvarjanja in organizacije javnega 
dostopa do njih v arhivskih informacijskih sistemih.
Ključne besede: arhivsko gradivo, informacijski sistemi, digitalne technologije, stro-
kovne veščine, novi tehnični nosilci, računalnipki programi, strokovno usposabljanje 
11PROFESSION OF ARCHIVIST IN WORK WITH ARCHIVAL DOCUMENTS ON NEW TECHNICAL SUPPORTS: NORMS AND PRACTICES Lanskoy Grigory N.
1 INTRODUCTION: 
Archival science with its orientation from one part to the sphere of forming informational 
base for objective historical studies and from another angle to the forming of methods 
and skills of work with archives (as informational systems) and archival documents exits 
in conditions of permanent development in each of these two directions. In real terms of 
industrial and of post-industrial society it is possible to indicate appearance of new tech-
nologies in creation of documentary information and the types of sources of this informa-
tion as one of basic factors of development of archival practice and that of archival science. 
Firstly, in the period at the end of the 19th century, following the creation of cinema, doc-
uments were indicated by specialists in the sphere of production of visual documents as 
a «new source of history» which gives moving image real and sometimes of artistically 
prepared events. In this context, a well-known Polish photographer B.A. Matoushevsky 
proposed in his text (1, Matoushevsky, 1898) to organize a special committee of creators 
and other experts in the sphere of cinematic art for creation and then for realization of the 
project of archival depository for objects of cinema chronicle production. In result of this 
process all mostly important enterprises of cinema industry (for example, French enter-
prise of Pathe brothers, Russian enterprise of A.A. Hanjonkov) formed conditions for per-
manent conservation of objects of their production. New interest for cinema, photo and 
then for sound documents appeared in 1920 and in the beginning of the 1930s, when not 
only scientists but also political leaders wrote about large communicative possibilities 
of visual and audiovisual information presented in chronicle and deeply in documentary 
form. On this occasion in Great Britain and than in some other countries (for example in the 
Soviet Union) tradition of creation films and of radio programs composed according to sce-
nario text from selected fragments of archival records of different events was introduced 
and adopted, along with artistic representations, interviews. Successful experiments in 
this sphere (connected, for example, with the creation of splicing films «Fall of Romanov 
dynasty» and «Russia of Nicholas II and Lev Tolstoy») became supplementary arguments 
for creation of specialized archival services for the needs of collecting, preserving, organ-
izing and using the practical aims of cinema, photo and of sound documents. Existence of 
these services on the level of archival services on state level in quality of state archives 
and on level of such services in structure of enterprises in sphere of production of these 
groups of documents formed necessity in organization of professional training of special-
ists in sphere of work with them for assurance of their preservation and organization of 
their effective using. From the end of 1950, and especially actively from the 1960s, study 
of audiovisual and technical documents of graphical form became important part of pro-
fessional training programs for future archivists. For example, in URSS of this period, first 
study books were published devoted to organization and methods of work with cinema, 
photo and sound documents (2, Kouzin, 1960) and with technical archives (3, Kouzin, 
1956) created in the Moscow State Institute of History and Archives. The development of 
professional activity of representatives of different generations of specialists were con-
nected with the development of two tendencies which take influence on the content and 
on practice of professional training. First of them was conditioned by organization and de-
velopment of archival services specially adopted for work with audiovisual and technical 
documents on different new supports. For example, in the period from the end of 1960 up 
until today system of archives created by media services was actively developed. Second 
tendency was connected with the appearance of computer equipment and prepared for 
its using system of programs and data resources. Results of the experience of working 
with them in URSS were presented in the middle of 1980 years (4, Gelman-Vinogradov, 
Danilenko, Tanonin, 1986). These two tendencies were based on results of scientific and 
technical progress and particularly of development of informational technologies can 
12 PROFESSION OF ARCHIVIST IN WORK WITH ARCHIVAL DOCUMENTS ON NEW TECHNICAL SUPPORTS:  NORMS AND PRACTICES Lanskoy Grigory N.
be seen in contemporary conditions. On one hand, in world practice of archival work and 
of professional training in last years appeared and were published scientific works de-
voted to the use of new technologies in work with photographic documents belonged 
to previous generation of documentary resources created on new technical supports (5, 
Lavedrine, 2013). On the other hand, main attention is paid to the study of electronic and 
digital documents that make possible the development of contemporary archival services 
in many countries of the world (6, Hajtnik, 2019).
2 METHODS:
The study is based on using of system and complex approaches. Use of system approach 
is firstly oriented to find and to indicate community of skills and knowledge that are 
necessary for organization of work with different documents on new technical supports 
in archival services. According to actual conditions of development of archival work it is 
possible to see practically in all industrially developed countries in the world composi-
tion of traditional and computer (for example) digital technologies in the work spheres 
of conservation, preservation of audiovisual and technical documents and of communi-
cation with them in traditional halls for lecturers and also certainly on distance by using 
Internet system. Transition to large diffusion of new informational technologies with 
using at the same time useful historically formed technologies oriented especially to 
forming system of archival description of documents was very active in the countries of 
Western Europe and Northern America in the period following the middle of the 1980s. 
Professional experience in this sphere was presented in special studies devoted to or-
ganization and practice of work with different types of audiovisual documents in France 
(7, Lanskoy, 2004) and other countries (8, XI International congress of archives, 1988). 
The use of system approach is oriented not only to the study of composition of computer 
technologies and traditional forms of work with documents on new supports but also to 
analysis of systematically connected processes in using these technologies and forms. It 
is not necessary to prove that in conditions of contemporary society archives not only in 
informational but also in institutional form must be presented as informational systems 
with permanent communication of computer, and, particularly, of digital technologies 
in the spheres of preservation, use and presentation of images of audiovisual, technical, 
and, finally, of electronic documents in open archival informational systems. The same 
connection exists between stages of traditionally organized work with documents on 
new, non-paper supports from the moment of their archiving and until the time of com-
munication of different categories of users with them. Complex approach is used in pa-
per for presentation of factors which have and take influence on work of archivists in 
institutions and services oriented to work with documents created and preserved on 
new technical supports. The role of them is deeply analyzed in contemporary studies of 
European scientists (9, Klasinc, 2019). Realization of complex approach gives possibility 
to find how different groups of archival services and archivists pass process of adapta-
tion to new technologies in work with documents created on traditional supports for 
audiovisual and technical documentary sources. Experience in the study of this process 
shows that archival services created and developed in the system of the state are devel-
oped in this sphere on a lower level by comparison with the same services organized in 
the sector of private enterprises. On the other hand it is possible to see that in the coun-
tries with direct development of system or electronic records management between 
creators of documents and archivists, technological level of work with documents on 
new technical supports in state archival services is high or on the same level as private 
services. Complex approach is also important for an analysis of the system of profes-
13PROFESSION OF ARCHIVIST IN WORK WITH ARCHIVAL DOCUMENTS ON NEW TECHNICAL SUPPORTS: NORMS AND PRACTICES Lanskoy Grigory N.
sional training for archivists in different educational organizations. In many of them it 
is possible to see composition and connection of traditional education resources and 
new, especially computer and program equipment in the study of norms and practices 
of work with audiovisual, technical and in a smaller part with electronic documents. 
Presentation of the study of system and complex approaches gives basis for realization 
of basic methods of scientific study. Historical (retrospective) method is used for indi-
cation of influence of traditional technologies of creation, conservation, preservation 
and in some situations of using audiovisual and technical documents to organization 
of contemporary archival work with them with inclusion of new informational and for 
example digital technologies. Method of logical connection (synthesis) of information 
gives possibility to present connection of norms and practices of work with documents 
on new technical supports which existed before transition to conditions of information 
society and in process of this transition. The use of this method is also important to show 
connection between professional skills of archivists in audiovisual and technical archi-
val services formed with using of new informational technologies and without their us-
ing. Method of comparative analysis creates conditions for demonstrating possibilities 
which appeared for work with different types of audiovisual, technical and electronic 
documents in the context of technological progress.
3 RESULTS
On the basis of historical, synthetic and comparative analysis it is, firstly, important to 
indicate that profession of an archivist in the sphere of work with documents on new 
technical supports develops on base of composition of traditional methods and of skills 
based on using of new technologies of work with documentary informational resourc-
es. At the time of appearance of new types of these documents connected with creation 
of different photographic technologies and types of images and some later of technol-
ogies of fixation and diffusion of sound information and then of different types of doc-
uments presented information in form of electronically created data and some later of 
electronic documents in their contemporary form main interest was firstly oriented to 
technological aspects. Engineers used theoretical achievements of different sciences 
(particularly of physical and chemistry sciences) and worked in the sphere of applica-
tion knowledge presented in scientific works and in practical experiences to realization 
of new forms of registration, conservation, preservation and diffusion of documenta-
ry information fixed on new technical supports. Successfully realized and verified in 
specially prepared conditions technologies became norms of practical work of differ-
ent enterprises and organizations which also had concrete and known origin indicated 
in patent documents and in other justified sources. Important condition of successful 
development of this permanent connection between created practices and based on 
norms verified by practical achievements existed in sphere of large accessible commu-
nication of public with new informational resources created on new technical supports. 
Experience with development of creation and of diffusion of audiovisual, technical and 
electronic documents shows that level of activity in production, archiving and of using 
different types of these documents depended on possibility of different social groups 
and people to have access and to use in their usual life these informational resources. 
The level of accessibility was founded not only in specific features of diversified visual 
and sound information but also in features of material and after creation of electronic 
documents of program equipment which could be used in different conditions of life 
and of professional activity. In this occasion in history of scientific and technical studies 
we can find practices and norms of creation and of using of documents on new techni-
14 PROFESSION OF ARCHIVIST IN WORK WITH ARCHIVAL DOCUMENTS ON NEW TECHNICAL SUPPORTS:  NORMS AND PRACTICES Lanskoy Grigory N.
cal supports which were successful or wasǹ t accepted by large public and by profes-
sional society. For example, it is possible to indicate that creation of technical resourc-
es and informational features of visual and audiovisual resources in sphere of creation 
and development of cinema industry had evident and big success not only in its original 
form of chronic, documentary and artistic films but also in form of television media pro-
duction. Global studies in sphere of history of cinema art show that this historical way 
was successful practically in all periods and in great majority of countries (10, Sadoul, 
1958–1966). Between technologies of registration and using of sound information tech-
nology of photographic registration of sound on photographic button was largely and 
effectively realized in comparison with other all other technologies in this sphere. For 
example, it was used in the spheres of production of radio programs and registration 
of sound information accompanied visual information in films. Also, for physical con-
ditions in many countries it was useful to organize conservation and preservation of 
sound documents (records) on photographic button support because in this situation it 
was possible to form common archival institutions for photographic and sound docu-
ments. This was present, for example, in the Soviet Union from the mid 1930s until the 
second half of the 1960s, when, until its separation into two special archival services, for 
photographic and cinema documents and for sound documents, was founded and suc-
cessfully evolved by the Central state archive of cinema, photo and sound documents of 
USSR. It is also possible to make classification of electronic documents by criteria of their 
accessibility and communicative efficiency according to material and program equip-
ment which must be used for organization of work with them for archivists and for dif-
ferent categories of users. For example, it is known in practice that documents created 
in pdf- format can be preserved and consulted in best conditions and with better result 
in comparison with some other formats. 
Effective practices of work with mostly adapted for needs of preservation and public 
access types of documents on new technical supports become objects for studies for 
specialists in the sphere of archival work and in many situations can be presented in 
normative documents created by International council on archives, International fed-
eration of library associations and institutions and some other organizations and rec-
ommended for future using all countries which want to participate in activity of these 
organizations. In conditions of creation and of development of global communications 
in the context of conception of world information community it is also possible to find 
results of efforts for rapprochement between strategy of development of archival, li-
brary, museum, media organizations in sphere of choice of norms and practices of work 
with documentary resources on new technical supports. For example, for more active 
communication with different groups of these resources representatives of these his-
torically different institutions use digital technologies for presentation of different 
audiovisual, technical and electronic documents in accessible informational systems. It 
is also possible to see elements of rapprochement in the sphere of registration and de-
scription of archival documentary information according to normative documents and 
for example to EAD standard for which now is recommended EAD3 version which was 
released in August 2015 (EAD (11, Encoded archival description standard, 2015). Mostly 
active work in this sphere is realized by archival and library institutions which do the 
task of preservation and of using of originals and of copies of different archival docu-
ments presented also on new technical supports. At the same time with preparation of 
universally adopted digital copies for these objects specialists of these organizations 
touch to prepare for their registration and description common program model and to 
use for this aim HTML program. This practical experience has big significance in our days 
and in the future can be presented as a methodical norm for large using.
15PROFESSION OF ARCHIVIST IN WORK WITH ARCHIVAL DOCUMENTS ON NEW TECHNICAL SUPPORTS: NORMS AND PRACTICES Lanskoy Grigory N.
At the same time, it is possible to indicate that archival documents on new technical 
supports from the point of their origin have a huge diversity. Between them it is possi-
ble to see informational resources of big value which is difficult to adapt to process of 
using new technologies. For example, between sound documents it is possible to find 
many sources with documentary information which were created by using mechanical 
technology of registration and of diffusion of sound. Organization of conditions of their 
conservation, preservation and accessibility in form of originals rests very important 
aim for archival, museum and library institutions and services in many countries (12, 
Kolyada, 2008). On this occasion professional skills of archivists specialized in work with 
documents on new technical supports must be based on possibility of practical work 
not only with new groups of electronic documents and digital copies of audiovisual and 
technical documents but also with their originals which were created with using of big 
diversity of technical and technological instruments and for which it is necessary to fol-
low traditional norms and practices of archival work.
4 DISCUSSION
First problem is connected with the definition of traditional and new approaches and 
skills that are necessary for education and for professional training of archivists who 
want to take specialization in different types of work with documents created on new 
technical supports. The specific feature of this problem is determined on the one hand 
by the content of traditional development of archival science practically in the whole 
world, and on the other by the interests of the leaders of different organizations and 
enterprises who want to have in their staff specialists with possibility to do all basic 
forms and types of work with documents and to use in this process new technologies. 
In terms of decision of this problem it is firstly important to indicate that some norms 
of work with original audiovisual documents and technical documentation exist dur-
ing all period of scientifically and methodically based work of archival institutions and 
archival services specialized in work with these informational resources. For exam-
ple, according to this traditional norm it is necessary to make separate inventories for 
every specific type of documents on new technical supports not only for presenta-
tion of structure of documentary base of concrete archive but also for previewing of 
conditions of their conservation, preservation and using in different practical aims. 
That’s why in description of content of archival collections in information resources 
of specialized archives we can see how many technological, projecting, constructing, 
photographic, cinema, sound and electronic documents are presented on conserva-
tion in these organizations. In occasion of existence of archival services oriented ex-
ceptionally for work with sound records, photos or electronic documents we can see 
on their guide resources more detailed information about all community of technical 
supports on which these services collect and preserve different groups of documents. 
It is also important that some norms and practical forms of work with documents on 
new technical supports do not change on methodical level in conditions of realization 
of computer technologies and are common for documents created in traditional and 
electronic form of recording concrete objects and events. For example, practically in 
all enterprises of cinema and television production description of films and programs 
on stages of their technological and other practical creation is forming by the way of 
presentation of content, plan, length and sound accompanying every concrete frame. 
Without following this norm and at the same time practical tradition it will be impor-
tant for user to find information about presentation of concrete object or event in film 
or in television program.
16 PROFESSION OF ARCHIVIST IN WORK WITH ARCHIVAL DOCUMENTS ON NEW TECHNICAL SUPPORTS:  NORMS AND PRACTICES Lanskoy Grigory N.
At the same time, during realization of traditional forms of work with audiovisual and 
technical documents, archivists must be professionally prepared to use new technol-
ogies presented by computer and program equipment. For this reason, they need to 
combine professional training in traditional actions of archival work with the use of 
new technologies. For example, it can be more efficient to make description of cinema 
frames or of fragments of sound records with the help not only of traditional tables for 
demonstration of information on different types of buttons and tapes but also with us-
ing computer program equipment. For archivists specialized in sphere of preservation 
of documents on new and on ancient material supports it is certainly necessary to know 
and to use technologies of digitalization. It is also evident that computer technologies 
give new possibilities in sphere of communication with audiovisual documents and 
with technical documents. In the process of their publication in electronic sphere appli-
cation of these technologies gives possibility to make more efficient and useful work in 
sphere of transition of visual, audiovisual and graphic texts to more accessible for many 
categories of users form.
Second discussing problem is connected with the existence of new information quality 
for audiovisual and technical documents, which can be produced in the process of their 
creation in electronic form. Scope of this problem is large because it can be diversified 
for organization of work with all types and groups of archival documents. For example, 
it is connected with conditions and possibilities of replacing scanning of original archi-
val documents for their future conservation and preservation. It is important to indi-
cate that during all evolution of photographic, cinema, sound and technical documents 
specialists and other categories of peoples discussed possibilities of appearance of new 
types of archival documents and disappearance of previous types. For example, from 
the 1960s there were different discussions about the possible replacing of cinema doc-
uments by films created with using of television media technologies. For the beginning 
of the 21st century, it is possible to see problem of existence of electronic audiovisual 
and electronic technical documents in the form of communities of documents separated 
from traditional audiovisual and traditional technical documents. For decision of this 
problem, it is necessary to use approach existing in the sphere of diplomatic science. 
According to the scientific studies from the early 1980s (13, Koval c̀henko, 1982), the use 
of computer program technologies in the process of creation of historical documents 
cannot change specific features of visual, sound or written information originally pre-
viewed for their content. This means that appearance and the use of new information 
and particularly of computer technologies follows changes in practices of some types 
and stages of archival work with them, for example, in the sphere of their preservation 
and publication in information systems open for public access. But at the same time dif-
fusion of information technologies doesǹ t pass to evident results in the spheres of in-
ventorying and description of audiovisual, technical and electronic documents because 
norms previewed for these directions of professional activity are basically oriented to 
their content and not to their external form.
Third problem in the work of archivists with archival documents on new technical sup-
ports is connected with the possibility of creation of common norms and practices for 
work with them in terms of world professional community. Origin of this problem is con-
nected with the existence of two tendencies. First of them supposes creation by Inter-
national Council on Archives and by other professional organizations and associations of 
general norms-oriented development of practical work with these groups of documents. 
This sort of norms can be devoted to global (for example to classification, inventorying 
and description of archival documents only on base of principle of respect of documentary 
founds) or to more particular problems connected, for example, with choice of more effi-
17PROFESSION OF ARCHIVIST IN WORK WITH ARCHIVAL DOCUMENTS ON NEW TECHNICAL SUPPORTS: NORMS AND PRACTICES Lanskoy Grigory N.
cient format for creation of digital copies of visual or of sound documentary records. Sec-
ond tendency previews possibility, and, in some situation, desire of archivists in concrete 
countries to use their own, adopted on national level norms and practices of work with ar-
chival documents on new technical supports. For example, in tradition of work of archival 
services in Russia based on many methodical traditions of archival work in USSR and some 
other countries with socialist orientation of social development it is possible to see spe-
cific features of work especially previewed for work with audiovisual and with electronic 
documents. Elements of their separation from all other objects of archival classification 
and conservation it is possible to see in normative documents adopted by Federal Agen-
cy of Archives of Russian Federation in the beginning of the 21st century. This diversified 
contradiction between international and national traditions of work with archival docu-
ments on new technical supports is very important not only for expert scientific study but 
also to its demonstration on base of concrete examples and explications during process of 
professional training of archivists.
5 CONCLUSION
Problem of choice of composition between traditionally created and new information 
technologies in work with archival documents on new technical supports, which dif-
fer from traditional paper support is current for countries which have big traditions of 
creation and diffusion of these groups of documentary informational resources. From 
one-part, audiovisual, technical and electronic documents independently from time of 
their origin become objects of historical, cultural and documentary heritage in occasion 
of their evaluation in this quality and must be preserved in their original form because 
in some situation this form can be also indicated as a sign of their importance for society 
and for its members. On the one hand, it is difficult to conserve and to follow traditional 
technologies of work with technical supports on which these types of documents were 
created, for example, in the second half of the 19th century or of the first half of the 20th 
century. That is why in some situations photographic and sound documents become 
only objects of conservation only in quality of museum objects, which cannot be acces-
sible for practical work of different categories of users. Decision for this problem can be 
found in composition between possibility of archivists to realize process of preservation 
historically important documents in their original form and to introduce new practices 
for enlarging public access to them. It is also important to develop norms of archival 
work on international and on national level in these both directions.
18 PROFESSION OF ARCHIVIST IN WORK WITH ARCHIVAL DOCUMENTS ON NEW TECHNICAL SUPPORTS:  NORMS AND PRACTICES Lanskoy Grigory N.
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19PROFESSION OF ARCHIVIST IN WORK WITH ARCHIVAL DOCUMENTS ON NEW TECHNICAL SUPPORTS: NORMS AND PRACTICES Lanskoy Grigory N.