12th May 2008, 11:11 AM
I have worked in a few record offices in my time. The general 'Archivist' understanding of commerical gain would be if you were to copy and item and then sell it on i.e. if you took a copy of a particularly nice map and then started producing reproductions of said map and selling them.
Producing copies of maps within a DBA is the Archive providing information. Some archives have limits of the extent of a map that can be photocopied or photographed; others will let you trace an entire map. 'Publishing' in Archive terms usually relates to the number of copies of an item that are to be reproduced. The number of copies of a DBA - less than 10 - which will be produced are so minimal they would generally not regard it as publication.
I do think that archaeologists undertaking research for commercial organisations can with all conscience sign the form in an archive. If you are in doubt say the material you are obtaining will be produced in a report, privately distributed, and X copies will be produced. Some archivists are very down with the kids in archaeological terms and will know what you mean, most will not and most will not have the time for you to stand there and explain it to them. Half the people in record offices - those under 65 - are solicitors' clerks copying deeds and other information for property searches or land law cases and are undertaking commercial work.
One big piece of advice, if you visit an archive frequently bring them some biscuits for the archivists' tea breaks and your documents will start to magically appear.
Producing copies of maps within a DBA is the Archive providing information. Some archives have limits of the extent of a map that can be photocopied or photographed; others will let you trace an entire map. 'Publishing' in Archive terms usually relates to the number of copies of an item that are to be reproduced. The number of copies of a DBA - less than 10 - which will be produced are so minimal they would generally not regard it as publication.
I do think that archaeologists undertaking research for commercial organisations can with all conscience sign the form in an archive. If you are in doubt say the material you are obtaining will be produced in a report, privately distributed, and X copies will be produced. Some archivists are very down with the kids in archaeological terms and will know what you mean, most will not and most will not have the time for you to stand there and explain it to them. Half the people in record offices - those under 65 - are solicitors' clerks copying deeds and other information for property searches or land law cases and are undertaking commercial work.
One big piece of advice, if you visit an archive frequently bring them some biscuits for the archivists' tea breaks and your documents will start to magically appear.