Nonkeepers

Nonkeepers is a term that appears infrequently in English and does not have a single, widely accepted definition. In general, it refers to people or roles that do not perform the duties associated with a keeper—someone responsible for maintaining, supervising, or custodial tasks within a defined domain.

In zoological or museum contexts, keepers are staff who care for animals or manage exhibits. Nonkeepers in those settings might be administrators, educators, researchers, or volunteers who do not participate in daily animal care or exhibit maintenance. The distinction helps clarify responsibilities within teams or organizations, though the exact meaning can vary by institution.

In other contexts, such as organizational roles or project descriptions, the term can be used to differentiate between individuals who actively preserve or oversee assets and those who do not. For example, in discussions of data stewardship or asset management, keepers may be described as custodians of records or collections, with nonkeepers referring to people who access, use, or study the assets without direct custodial duties. However, such usage is not standardized and depends on the source.

Because nonkeepers is not a formal, widely recognized category, its interpretation is context-dependent and can be ambiguous outside its specific domain. When encountered, it is advisable to review the surrounding definitions to determine the intended meaning.

See also: keeper, custodian, archivist.