Overview
Accessioning is the act of taking physical and legal custody of a group of records or other material in any format and documenting that receipt. It forms part of the legal and ethical obligations of a repository when it acquires materials. By documenting receipt of legal agreements and accounting for contents, accessioning helps to authenticate the provenance of the materials as well as to ensure that the transfer of physical or intellectual property fulfills the repository’s obligations specified in the deed of gift.
Accessioning involves multiple functions within a repository including collections/ curation, technical services, and research and public services, and systems for the description and the management of materials. As such, it is essential that all repository staff involved understand roles and responsibilities in the accessioning lifecycle.