An issue we come across before: we cannot 'tell users off' for not doing it right, when we have made little effort to tell them how to do it in the first place. Therefore, wherever possible, the standard should encourage a form of guidance in advance of use, and this should be prominent; either personal introduction or set times for introduction would be ideal.

Agree with aebuelow - encouraging information available via websites is vital.

The Standard for Access to Archives also made much of use of positive language in providing guidance to users, explaining why we say 'no' to some things and 'yes' to others. I wasn't clear if the evidence listed for this area meant that regulations would be judged in that context - or just having public regulations was deemed sufficient?

Maybe this section should also have something about the service providing the necessary tools to ensure users can be part of the preservation process, e.g. weights and cushions. Although I'm not sure how you would be able to provide practical evidence of this...

Having these available and out in the search room are another way of making users aware of their own responsibilities towards the documents, as it is very visual and immediate.

we need to be flexible - offer induction events, place information online but a formal programme sounds like an additional barrier to people using our services

I agree about the need to be flexible. Again the use of the word appropriate might be useful whether this is appropriate to the user or to the repository itself. There is no point inducting a user in good handling practice for original documents, for example, if they are only going to be looking at surrogates. On the other hand, for users of original material thought needs to be given to promoting good handling practice, not just for new users, but (and sometimes this is more tricky) for existing users. I think you need to ask for evidence from a range of options to demonstrate that an archive service takes seriously its responsibilities surrounding the use of archival material.

We should continue to assist and advise users in ways that are appropraite to the resources that they will be using.

In that way, the provision of guidance for the 'correct' use of original archives will be perceived by both staff and customers as being just as much part of service provision as is guidance in the 'correct' use of a microform reader, or an on-line catalogue.

These introductory actions are facilitation, and should not become barriers to use, for example by introducing requirements for customer induction.