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Open Access
Article
Publication date: 21 March 2023

Jan Maluleka, Marcia Nkwe and Patrick Ngulube

In the wake of the fourth industrial revolution, where most information is accessible online, archives should be visible online for them to fulfil their legislated mandate and…

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Abstract

Purpose

In the wake of the fourth industrial revolution, where most information is accessible online, archives should be visible online for them to fulfil their legislated mandate and facilitate access to information resources. The Covid-19 pandemic has further underscored the importance of online platforms in making archives accessible without the public having to visit archival institutions physically. The purpose of this study is to examine the extent to which public archival institutions of South Africa are visible online with the view to deepen their understanding of how archives promote themselves online.

Design/methodology/approach

The study employed content analysis to establish the online content of public archival institutions in South Africa. A google search was conducted using the names of the archival institutions as search terms. The top results obtained after the search were recorded for further analysis.

Findings

The findings suggest that public archival institutions in South Africa have limited online presence. Only the National Archives of South Africa had an active website with collections that are accessible online. Some provincial archives had websites hosted by their parent bodies while others had no websites at all. Only the Limpopo and Eastern Cape provincial archives had their Facebook pages in the top results. There were no signs of other social media sites in the top results.

Originality/value

The study concludes that public archival institutions are not visible online. All provincial archives need to have websites where they can be accessed. The use of social media platforms needs to be prioritised. In this fourth industrial revolution age, people communicate and interact online. Public archival institutions should therefore make it their primary mandate to take the archives to where the people are currently meeting.

Details

Collection and Curation, vol. 42 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2514-9326

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 2 October 2009

Sangmin Lee

This paper considers the sometimes serious and controversial political, legal, institutional and technological issues that were triggered by the mass transfer and copying of

2723

Abstract

Purpose

This paper considers the sometimes serious and controversial political, legal, institutional and technological issues that were triggered by the mass transfer and copying of electronic presidential records by the Sixteenth President of the Republic of Korea (South Korea) at the end of his term of office.

Design/methodology/approach

During this administration, the Korean government made significant government‐wide recordkeeping innovations, mainly initiated and supported by the then President Roh Moo Hyun, and also supported by civilian professionals. The Public Records Management Act (PRMA) was revised, the Presidential Records Act (PRA) legislated and the National Archives of Korea tripled in staff size and made significant government records innovations. At the end of his term, the President copied all of his presidential records in electronic form and kept them for his own use, transferring the “authenticated” records to the National Archives. The National Archives subsequently charged his former secretaries with violation of the Presidential Records Act.

Findings

The paper summarizes the records issues to give further consideration to electronic records matters as well as dealing with politically sensitive records in the public archives. Can recordkeeping and politics be divorced? If so, how?

Originality/value

The paper provides insight into the political dimension of recordkeeping in the public, government context in Korea.

Details

Records Management Journal, vol. 19 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0956-5698

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 8 March 2011

Maitrayee Ghosh

The Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada (DFAIT), Government of Canada, through Shastri Indo‐Canadian Institute, encourages Indian scholars for Understanding Canada…

2249

Abstract

Purpose

The Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada (DFAIT), Government of Canada, through Shastri Indo‐Canadian Institute, encourages Indian scholars for Understanding Canada Faculty Research, Fellowships; the author visited Canada during March 2010 to study Canadian archival system, especially records management in archives in Ontario province; the driving rationale for the study was the realization that there existed very few or no archives and record management (ARM) programs in India. This study intends to report different types of ARM programs in Canada, with special reference to e‐records management, namely automation status, creation of virtual exhibits, preservation of digital images, metadata standard for e‐records, etc.

Design/methodology/approach

The author visited national, provincial and municipal archives and conducted unstructured interviews with archives staff/managers.

Findings

Records are considered as commodity and attempts to improve their management has necessitated a more integrated and controlled approach. In this study, it is noted that archivist and records managers have at present very little influence on policy implementation of archives and working under university librarian and less influence on decision making. All the university archives get a nominal amount from library budget. No separate budget for archives is available; modest budgets are allocated for rare book collection. The total archives concept in English Canada is based on the American system. The responsibility for collecting and copying its historical records fell to the government; with the so‐called convergence of technologies helping to fulfill new demands and rising expectations and to empower the end‐user. It was possible to establish very good relations with the archivists of these institutions and the author is keen to keep contact with them. It is expected that this study will serve as a building block to deeper examinations of broader issues such as the core competencies with respect to records management with special reference to e‐records management.

Research limitations/implications

The prime objectives were to overview the current state of active and passive record keeping in the Government of Canada and identify the core competencies required to build effective record keeping infrastructures in the digital environment that has emerged in most government institutions. During a period of one month, the author was able to visit only selected archives in Toronto and Ottawa. The archives in other parts of Canada are not included in this study due to time limit.

Originality/value

The paper presents a study of the archival system in Canada and its role and contribution towards promoting a knowledge society in Canada.

Details

Library Hi Tech News, vol. 28 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0741-9058

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 5 June 2009

Heejung Kim and Hyewon Lee

Contrary to the development of digital libraries at Korean universities, which has been due to the progress of information technologies, university archives are in their early…

2911

Abstract

Purpose

Contrary to the development of digital libraries at Korean universities, which has been due to the progress of information technologies, university archives are in their early stages and are not fully using the digital environment. This paper aims to evaluate current trends and possible future directions of university archives in Korea via surveys (questionnaires) and interviews with university archives personnel.

Design/methodology/approach

Surveys (questionnaires) and interviews are made at 51 university archives in Korea. Questionnaires, based on university archives guidelines, include 27 questions in 6 categories: foundation principles, functions, process guidelines, facilities, acquisition and management, and access and services.

Findings

Basic foundation principles or process guidelines are not yet completely established. Administrative, preservation, and management functions are strong, but research and educational functions, and access and service functions are very weak. Use of information technologies and digital environment are poor also. Cooperation between internal and external institutions is not active. Future directions should address these weak points. Especially, information technologies can efficiently offer support for the development of university archives from the acquisition stage to the user services and preservation stages.

Originality/value

This investigation of current trends at university archives in Korea through questionnaires and interviews with staff members and archivists points to future directions for such archives, especially in the application of digital methods. The approach taken and suggestions made might be helpful for other university archives.

Details

The Electronic Library, vol. 27 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0264-0473

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 28 January 2014

Ping Wang, In-Lin Hu and Chen-Chi Chang

The research issues of digital preservation have apparently moved from how to set up the digital archives to on-going business models. The aim of this paper is to investigate the…

3981

Abstract

Purpose

The research issues of digital preservation have apparently moved from how to set up the digital archives to on-going business models. The aim of this paper is to investigate the key factors for digital archives' success. This paper provides a business model for the sustainability of digital archives.

Design/methodology/approach

Both pricing strategies and business models related to digital archives are very important. From the point of archive preservation, how to preserve digital archives permanently and make them accessible are the most important research issues. This paper, based on a review of the academic literature, adopts the innovative pricing approach to develop the business models and pricing strategy.

Findings

The research defines the different needs at start-up versus the on-going operations for digital preservation. Considering digital archives as information goods, this study adopts the TRIZ method to establish a pricing strategy for digital preservation. It discusses the pricing strategy for digital preservation using an innovative method of creative problem-solving theory from the perspectives of the archives institutes, materials providers and consumers.

Originality/value

This study recommends the pricing strategies for the digital preservation programs and the government's price policy based on the TRIZ analysis method.

Details

The Electronic Library, vol. 32 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0264-0473

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 March 1993

David Enns

Providing access to holdings is central to the work of archives,particularly those institutions which are publicly funded. Recently,questions relating to access have assumed…

Abstract

Providing access to holdings is central to the work of archives, particularly those institutions which are publicly funded. Recently, questions relating to access have assumed additional importance for archives and other information institutions. To address these concerns, institutions such as the National Archives of Canada have become more aggressive in promoting the use of their holdings. A significant component of this strategy involves the provision, through various means, of copied holdings and information about those holdings. While similar, there are important differences between interlending in libraries and similar activities in archival institutions. These differences stem from the unique nature of archival documents. The National Archives of Canada disseminates information about itself and its holdings, as well as copies of actual holdings, through several programmes. These programmes include inter‐institutional loan of copies, photocopying services, a programme diffusing copies to provincial archives, and a new initiative to provide access to such information at “decentralized access sites” across the country.

Details

Interlending & Document Supply, vol. 21 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0264-1615

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 3 April 2017

Cajetan Okechukwu Onyeneke

The purpose of this study is to investigate the incidence of disaster and how it affects access to records of the National Archives of South East, Nigeria. However, the specific…

2421

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the incidence of disaster and how it affects access to records of the National Archives of South East, Nigeria. However, the specific objectives are to: identify the types of disasters that occur in the archives of South East, Nigeria; ascertain the frequency with which the disasters occur in the archives; determine the relationship between disaster and access to records of the archives; find out the disaster prevention measures adopted by the archives; find out the disaster response and recovery plans available in the archives; and make recommendations for effective disaster prevention and control measures for the archives.

Design/methodology/approach

The research design adopted for this study is the survey method. Individuals constituted the respondents of the study. This design assisted in gathering accurate data of the given issues and also guided in discussing the findings of the study. The researcher adopted one technique in data collection. Questionnaire was used for primary data collection. Questionnaire was used to collect data from the staff of the National Archives.

Findings

The findings show that the most prevalent disaster experienced in the archives is power failure. There are occurrences of other man-made disasters in the archives such as stealing, vandalism, fire outbreak and water leakages. The only natural disaster they acknowledged that occurs in the archives is lightening strike. The effect of this disaster was found to be enormous as attested to by 90.9 and 75 per cent respondents in Enugu and Owerri, respectively. The respondents do not agree that natural phenomena such as earthquake/tsunami, volcanic eruption and landslides do constitute threat to records of the archives.

Originality/value

The events of disaster, in whatever shape or frequency, impede access to records of the National Archives of South East, Nigeria. Most of the disasters that affect the archives are man-made, but with the recent happenings around the globe – the global climate change – it becomes imperative to focus attention on eventual occurrence of natural disasters in the archives. In prevention, response and recovery plans, it is important that consideration is given to all areas likely to be affected by the disaster.

Details

Collection Building, vol. 36 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0160-4953

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 March 2024

Kai Naumann and Andreas Neuburger

Starting from the status quo, the paper outlines perspectives and challenges for the connection and interlinking of digitised and digital archival data. The following topics are…

Abstract

Purpose

Starting from the status quo, the paper outlines perspectives and challenges for the connection and interlinking of digitised and digital archival data. The following topics are addressed: Where are fields of action and what are the means of archives? Which functional and technical requirements are to be considered, and what is the role of portal infrastructures linking together various different institutions?

Design/methodology/approach

Considering needs of users and general framework conditions, the paper examines new approaches emerging in Germany. It outlines recent projects and considerations aiming to improve services and visibility of archives within the national data infrastructure in Germany.

Findings

Cross-connections are no new phenomenon, but change their appearance significantly in a digital context. In this respect, both smaller and bigger archives profit from participation in larger digital networks. Furthermore, archives need to keep in mind to reflect the quality of their digital (meta)data regularly and to offer or join systems that functionally and technically support cross-connection and interlinking of data.

Originality/value

The paper endeavours to show the importance of digital cross-connections and the role of portal infrastructures for visibility, online-distribution and use of digital archival metadata and data.

Details

Journal of Documentation, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0022-0418

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 7 February 2024

Nkholedzeni Sidney Netshakhuma

This paper aims to explore the role played by the National Archives of South Africa in human rights promotion and protection. The study examined the challenges that archivists…

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the role played by the National Archives of South Africa in human rights promotion and protection. The study examined the challenges that archivists encounter when undertaking archival functions, such as acquisition, appraisal and access provision, that contribute to forming documentary archives crucial for human rights promotion and protection.

Design/methodology/approach

A review of literature dealing with acquisition, appraisal and access was used in this research. It was supplemented with interviews.

Findings

This paper provides recommendations of benefits in the field of archives management with a focus on the areas of acquisition, appraisal and access. The transformational discourse in the jurisdiction of archives management challenges archival institutions to be active players in selecting historical and cultural archives’ significance that is significant in human rights protections. However, despite judicial requirements that recommend the importance of archives, there is evidence that archival functions such as appraisal, acquisition and access are not being fully used, resulting in national archives institutions that are subject to irregularities that contribute to an unbalanced archives collection.

Research limitations/implications

The paper was limited only to the National Archives of South Africa.

Practical implications

The paper makes practical implications concerning the acquisition, appraisal and providing access to human rights records.

Social implications

Sufficient funding resource allocation ought to be provided to advance human rights promotion.

Originality/value

This paper offers informed recommendations to address the challenges of acquisition, appraisal and access provision of archive materials. The availability of archives materials reinforces the community by aiding to protect legal rights and prevent human rights violations. It was, thus, necessary to establish whether the National Archives of South Africa is actively building the archives collections that are important for human rights promotion and protection.

Details

Collection and Curation, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2514-9326

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 25 January 2024

Yaolin Zhou, Zhaoyang Zhang, Xiaoyu Wang, Quanzheng Sheng and Rongying Zhao

The digitalization of archival management has rapidly developed with the maturation of digital technology. With data's exponential growth, archival resources have transitioned…

Abstract

Purpose

The digitalization of archival management has rapidly developed with the maturation of digital technology. With data's exponential growth, archival resources have transitioned from single modalities, such as text, images, audio and video, to integrated multimodal forms. This paper identifies key trends, gaps and areas of focus in the field. Furthermore, it proposes a theoretical organizational framework based on deep learning to address the challenges of managing archives in the era of big data.

Design/methodology/approach

Via a comprehensive systematic literature review, the authors investigate the field of multimodal archive resource organization and the application of deep learning techniques in archive organization. A systematic search and filtering process is conducted to identify relevant articles, which are then summarized, discussed and analyzed to provide a comprehensive understanding of existing literature.

Findings

The authors' findings reveal that most research on multimodal archive resources predominantly focuses on aspects related to storage, management and retrieval. Furthermore, the utilization of deep learning techniques in image archive retrieval is increasing, highlighting their potential for enhancing image archive organization practices; however, practical research and implementation remain scarce. The review also underscores gaps in the literature, emphasizing the need for more practical case studies and the application of theoretical concepts in real-world scenarios. In response to these insights, the authors' study proposes an innovative deep learning-based organizational framework. This proposed framework is designed to navigate the complexities inherent in managing multimodal archive resources, representing a significant stride toward more efficient and effective archival practices.

Originality/value

This study comprehensively reviews the existing literature on multimodal archive resources organization. Additionally, a theoretical organizational framework based on deep learning is proposed, offering a novel perspective and solution for further advancements in the field. These insights contribute theoretically and practically, providing valuable knowledge for researchers, practitioners and archivists involved in organizing multimodal archive resources.

Details

Aslib Journal of Information Management, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2050-3806

Keywords

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