ARCHIVES AS AN ASSET OR A BURDEN? A REFLECTION ON TWO DECADES OF SAFEGUARDING INSTITUTIONAL MEMORY

Abstrak

Archives in university are often understood ambivalently: on the one hand, as strategic assets that preserve institutional memory and knowledge; on the other hand, as administrative burdens that become relevant only during audits, accreditation processes, or disputes. This paper reflects on the author's more than two decades of professional experience as an archivist at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), integrating empirical observations with the theoretical lens of critical archival studies. The method employed is autoethnography using a critical reflective approach grounded in professional practice, analyzed through a synthesis of literature on archives as symbols of power, collective memory, institutional assets, and managerial burdens. The reflection reveals a persistent gap between the conceptual understanding of archives as socio-political instruments and institutional memory, and the operational realities of universities, where archives are still treated as bureaucratic outputs constrained by limited space, budgets, human resource competencies, unclear responsibilities, and uneven digital transformation. The findings also highlight the emotional and professional burdens experienced by archivists due to limited recognition and enduring occupational stereotypes. This paper concludes that archives can become tangible assets only when they are treated as part of an institution's identity, supported by standardized policies, continuous competency development, appropriate technological adoption, and collaborative and participatory approaches to archival governance.