"For students of archival studies, this work is an excellent tool for understanding what reference archivists do, how such departments function, and how they fit within the larger picture of an archival organization. This volume would be particularly helpful as archival course material, as well as for archivists who are new to the reference side of archival work. A great strength of the book is that concepts are presented in a way that encourages readers to apply them to their own organizations."
—Kayla Scott, American Archivist
"Oestreicher situates reference and access work as central to the entire archives project, not merely beholden to it. The book’s intended function is that of a manual and, as such, offers little explicit interrogation of archives and archival labor as sites of struggle. However, in the great detail and care with which Oestreicher unravels the specifics of our archival labor one cannot help but find solidarity: this is what my work looks like, too."
—Leah Richardson, College & Research Libraries
"In the 15 years since the publication of [the Archival] Fundamental Series II, researchers have (fairly or not) elevated their expectations around the immediacy and extent of access to digital records. Oestreicher states that meeting these expectations, which often removes archivists from reference interactions, requires a new kind of approach to reference services, [one that] is detailed throughout the volume."
—Rory Grennan, Archival Issues
Perhaps the most useful part of the book is the appendices, which include sample
registration and photocopying forms, a sample archive website and even a sample
reference manual outline. . . . The
inclusion of these materials provides smaller institutions with convenient and
pragmatic direction."
—Cindy Brightenburg, Journal of Western Archives
This edition is a necessary update, dealing with reference and access within archives in the age of online users and virtual and digital collections."
—Catherine Ryan, Journal of the Australian Library and Information Association