AI Preparedness Guidelines for Archivists: A Practical Framework for the Profession
Released in February 2026, the guidelines provide timely and practical guidance for archives navigating the growing interest in artificial intelligence. Developed through the FLAME (AI for Libraries, Archives and Museums) project and published by the Archives & Records Association, the guidelines are openly available under a CC BY licence and are designed specifically for the GLAM sector.
Authored by Professor Giovanni Colavizza (University of Copenhagen and University of Bologna) and Professor Lise Jaillant (Loughborough University), the guidelines respond to a question many archivists are now being asked: are our collections ready for AI?
From AI curiosity to professional readiness
Across archives, AI is increasingly being discussed as a way to accelerate description, identify sensitive material, or enable new forms of discovery and access. The guidelines cut through the hype, offering a clear and grounded message. AI can support archival work, but only when collections are deliberately prepared, documented and governed in ways that align with archival principles and ethical responsibilities.
Rather than presenting AI as a shortcut or replacement for professional judgement, the guidelines position automation as a constrained necessity. Used well, AI can augment archival practice. Used poorly, it can amplify risk, bias and loss of context.
What the guidelines focus on
The AI Preparedness Guidelines emphasise the importance of:
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Preparing collections so they are suitable for AI-assisted use
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Ensuring robust documentation, provenance and context
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Embedding governance, transparency and accountability into AI use
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Maintaining alignment with archival ethics and professional standards
The intent is not to encourage rapid adoption, but to help archivists ask the right questions before AI tools are introduced into collection management, access or decision-making processes.