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Security status of electronic records preservation in central China: The survey results of 34 archives in Wuhan City

Qiuhui Xiao (School of Information Management, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China)
Xiaotong Xu (School of Information Management, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China)
Panpan Liu (Zhongnan Engineering Corporation Limited, Changsha, China)

Library Hi Tech

ISSN: 0737-8831

Article publication date: 2 January 2020

Issue publication date: 23 February 2021

3114

Abstract

Purpose

Recently, increasing importance has been given to electronic records in China, despite the lack of understanding that institutions and organizations have regarding the security status of electronic records preservation. Wuhan, the largest city in central China, serves as a case to investigate the preservation security of electronic records. Challenges to security are summarized, and solutions are proposed to support policy-developing and operational guidance. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

The Delphi method is applied to analyze the advice of nine experts, select survey items and design questionnaires. Data are collected from 34 archives in Wuhan through field surveys, oral interviews and e-mails, which are analyzed and illustrated with three representative cases.

Findings

Main achievements of electronic records preservation are concluded in the electronic records management system, carrier types and storage formats, and data backup. Problems are summarized as a lack of awareness and capability of defending against security risks, disaster recovery capability, and understanding of electronic record characteristics. Solutions are proposed as follows: carrying out regular security risk evaluation, adopting new technologies, implementing application-level backup, strengthening technology-related education and attracting more IT talent to join the archive discipline. In addition, it is critical to promote an understanding of the characteristics of electronic records.

Originality/value

This paper investigates the security status of electronic records in central China by surveys and case studies. Critical problems and corresponding solutions are raised to support policy-developing and operational guidance for the research and practice of all kinds of institutions that implement electronic records preservation.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

This work is supported by Humanities and Social Science Foundation, Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China (No.15JJD870002). The authors thank Dr Jinfang Niu, Dr Hui Yang and Yilin Zhang for proofreading this paper.

Citation

Xiao, Q., Xu, X. and Liu, P. (2021), "Security status of electronic records preservation in central China: The survey results of 34 archives in Wuhan City", Library Hi Tech, Vol. 39 No. 1, pp. 22-36. https://doi.org/10.1108/LHT-04-2019-0088

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited

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