The Archivist must safeguard the records in his/her custody. S/he must preserve records from defacement, degradation, or theft; S/he must protect them against physical damage by fire or excessive exposure to light, dampness, and dryness, and s/he must likewise protect digital records from bit loss and other issues affecting the ability to render an original object. S/he must ensure that the evidentiary value of records is not impaired in the normal course of rehabilitation, arrangement, and use.
References: National Archives and Records Administration, Archivist Code of Ethics
