ICA

Expanded name

International Council on Archives

Date of establishment

1948

URL

http://www.ica.org/ [external]

Objectives

The ICA\'s objectives are to:

• encourage and support the development of archives in all countries, in co-operation with other organisations, including international agencies, governmental and non-governmental
• promote, organise and co-ordinate best practice, the development of standards and other activities in the field of records and archives management
• establish, maintain and strengthen relations between archivists of all countries and between all institutions, professional bodies and other organisations, public and private, wherever located, which are concerned with the administration or preservation of records and archives, or with the professional training of archivists, especially through the exchange of information
• facilitate the interpretation and use of archives by making their content more widely known and by encouraging greater access to them

Areas of Activity

The ICA is the professional organisation for the world community of archivists and works to strengthen co-operation and professional competance. It is organised by world region and interest groups. There are

• 6 governing bodies
• 13 world regional branches
• 13 sections for members with common professional interests
• 2 working groups

The organisation has identified 4 priority areas for its professional and technical programme during 2004-2008. These are:

• Advocacy and Promotion
• Electronic Records and Automation
• Preservation and Disaster Preparedness
• Professional Education and Training

Membership

Membership is divided into 4 categories:

• Category A: National Archives, 224 members
• Category B: Professional Associations, 66 members
• Category C: Institutional members, 879 members
• Category D: Individual members, 211 members

Standards Sponsored

ISAAR(CPF)

International Standard Archival Authority Record for Corporate Bodies, Persons and Families

ISAD(G)

General International Standard Archival Description

ISDF

International Standard for Describing Functions