The mission of the University Archives is to ensure the preservation of those records of the Australian National University which have continuing value and to provide services which make those records accessible to the University community and to the general public in accordance with the Archives Act 1983 and relevant University policies and guidelines.
Since its inception in 1998, the University Archives has operated within the policy frameworks established by the National Archives of Australia and the University's in-house University Records section. These do not cover all aspects of the operations of the University Archives, notably the provision of reference services and collecting activities outside the official records of the University. Draft policies on public access to the Archives and on the acquisition and management of personal archives are available from the University Archives. Further policy development in 2002 is planned, taking into account factors such as recent changes in custodial practice by the National Archives of Australia.