A university archive decided to restrict physical access to its rare medieval manuscripts exclusively to certified preservation specialists, requiring general researchers and students to use high-resolution digital copies instead. Several student researchers objected to this restriction. However, the head archivist defended the policy, pointing out that physical handling inevitably causes irreversible physical degradation to centuries-old parchment, whereas digital copies provide complete textual and visual access without endangering the preservation of original artifacts for future generations. Thus, the archive's restriction on physical access is justified. Which one of the following principles, if valid, most helps to justify the head archivist's argument?
- AEducational institutions should never grant physical access to any archival materials that have not yet been digitized.
- An institution is justified in limiting direct physical access to historical materials if an alternative method provides equivalent informational access while preventing irreversible deterioration of the original items.Cevap
- CWhenever an institution successfully prevents the irreversible deterioration of its collections, it has provided researchers with adequate alternative access.
- DPreserving the physical integrity of historical artifacts is always more important than any potential educational or research objective.
- EAn institution is justified in restricting physical access to historical materials only if no authorized researchers raise objections to the restriction.