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The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between different mechanisms for integrating national archival resources, leading to the development of a knowledge management-based framework for facilitating the optimal utilization of national archives resources in China.

The study adopts a mixed-methods approach consisting of a review of existing mechanisms for integrating national archival resources and site visits and interviews for investigating the effectiveness of these mechanisms in real world practices for managing and utilizing national archives resources in China.

The knowledge management-based framework is shown to be useful for building interdependence, interconnections and interactions between diversified integration mechanisms to meet national, societal and public needs in China. The framework is significant for rearranging the role of knowledge management in collaboration to protect the value of national archives resources as the knowledge asset of a state. It can reengineer the knowledge management activities in communication to share the value of national archives resources as the knowledge asset of a society. Furthermore, the framework can reconfigure knowledge management artifacts in connectivity to increase the value of national archives resources as the knowledge asset of the public.

The review of the related literature is selective rather than comprehensive, and the interviews are based on a self-selected convenience sample, which is rather skewed demographically.

The proposed framework can be used to guide the development of a national strategy for the effective integration of national archives resources to promote a better delivery of public-centric knowledge services in a specific society.

This study provides a knowledge management framework for the effective integration of national archives resources toward their optimal utilization. It contributes to the examination of the role of different integration mechanisms in interactive knowledge management processes and the advancement of academic debate on the effectiveness of these mechanisms for the integration of national archives resources to facilitate their optimal utilization in China.

The purpose of this paper is to identify the leading topics and developmental trends of archival information resource research in China by visualizing the intellectual structure and evolution patterns of archival information resource research.

This study took China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) as the data source and extracted keywords from relevant articles in archival information resource research as the sample. First, the frequency and co-occurrence of keywords were calculated by using SCI2. Second, this study analyzed the co-word network indicators by using Pajek. Then, topic community detection was conducted by using a VOS viewer, as well as the visualization of intellectual structures. Next, this study developed a graphical mapping of the evolution of research topics over time by using Cortext.

The research topics of archival information resources in China were unbalanced but distinct. Researchers focus on the construction and utilization of archival information resource, which consist of five evident research directions. The phenomena of fusion and differentiation coexist in research topic evolution. There were both continuities of traditional research and innovations in emerging research. The archival information resource research tended to be systematized and extended, reflecting the vertical and horizontal extension of the research content.

Based on a large number of previous studies, this study adopted quantitative methods to reveal the intellectual structure and evolution patterns of archival information resource research in China, providing guidance for researchers and institutions to grasp research status and developmental trends.

This paper aims to analyse the current Southern African countries’ archives and records management legislations to identify the gaps and challenges. It is important to assess the role played by National Archives legislations within the preservation of heritage and history; private archives known as liberation archives; the transfer of archives; the disposal and retention of records, access, copyright management and skills; and development of staff.

The study used a qualitative methodology through document analysis, interviews and observation. The sampling of the study comprised representatives from the selected Southern African National Archives (South Africa, Mozambique, Botswana and Namibia).

The key findings revealed gaps of the archives and records management legislations in terms of definitions, transfer, disposal and transfer of records and accessibility. Some of the Southern African countries failed to use archives and records management legislation to promote accountability and governance.

The research is limited to the following countries: Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia and South Africa.

Archive and records management legislation which has gaps creates problems in terms of effective implementation of archives and records management programmes.

The failure by Southern African countries to revise their National Archives legislations and clarify the role of National Archives will lead to loss of archival materials if not addressed.

Updated archives legislation contributes to the development of effective archives and records management programme.

The Center for Electronic Records of the National Archives and Records Administration was established in 1988 as the custodial unit for the permanent electronic records of the U.S. federal government. The program for the long‐term preservation of electronic (or machine‐readable) records by the National Archives goes back to 1968, and the acting archivist of the United States has recently acknowledged the thirtieth anniversary of the first formal appraisal of electronic records. This article will highlight both the Center for Electronic Records' program and the various levels of access to information about the records in its custody.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of climate change on South Africa’s Mpumalanga Provincial Archives (MPA) and related records management activities.

A qualitative research approach/method was used to collect data from the source, including purposive sampling and expert knowledge solicited through semi-structured interviews. A review was undertaken to source climate data and related archival sector literature.

Recent extreme weather events in Mpumalanga seem to bear out climate change projections. The current absence of relevant strategies and plans implies that the MPA and provincial departments are not yet prepared for emergencies. The lack of a plan, an implementation strategy and related training may increase the impact of disasters on the provincial archives’ environment. Without disaster plans and robust preparedness, the question of how the MPA is going to preserve archives for future generations is raised. In addition, due to a lack of guidance for registry staff, appraisal is not allowing for identification and processing of archival materials, so combined with a lack of disaster management strategies and plans contributes to the loss of archives.

This research is limited to the MPA; however, the findings may be extended to other South Africa provincial archives and parts of the world experiencing similar issues. There is a need to conduct similar research on a larger scale so as to explore the impact of climate change in other provincial archives to provide a wider context of the problem within South Africa.

When archivists accept holdings into their repositories, they take the responsibility for their archival custody. But, these efforts may come to nothing if the archives are lost. Disaster management is the key to the protection of the archives.

This paper contributes to the literature on the impact of climate change on archives. The results achieved should be seen as a first step towards identification of the issue.

The purpose of this study is to assess the extent to which the Mpumalanga Provincial Archives (MPA) complies with the Mpumalanga Archives Act, 2008 legislative/policy provisions of archives building, capacity building and electronic records management and to suggest recommendations for effective archives and records management (ARM) programme in South Africa.

This paper adopts a quantitative approach supplemented by qualitative data using document review to collect data and content analysis.

The results show that MPA enacted Mpumalanga Archives Act, 2008. However, the challenge is the implementation of such legislation. The findings of this paper would contribute towards the literature in archival legislation in South Africa and other parts of the world.

Even though the paper was based in South Africa, it was limited to the MPA of South Africa.

The findings are expected to be instrumental in the implementation of Mpumalanga Archives Act, 2008.

The findings and recommendations will help in guiding MPA on the implementation of an effective provincial archive and records to facilitate the effective management of records to determine those of archival value, to preserve them for posterity and to make them accessible to the public.

This is an original study using a document review to review the Mpumalanga Archives Act, 1998. The effective archives infrastructure will contribute to compliance with legislative components such as archives building, cooperation, ERMS, appraisal and disposal of records, archives advisory body and access to information.

Records management in Africa is increasingly influenced by two global developments: public service reform initiatives and computerisation. The national archival organisations, which have statutory responsibility for records management in the public sector, have been severely under‐resourced for many years but now have new opportunities to develop a much higher profile. The situation presents a range of new challenges, and not all are agreed on the best way forward. However, professionals and educators across the continent are re‐evaluating their role and many are taking a holistic view encompassing the needs of users at all stages of the records lifecycle or continuum. This attitude is earning the respect of senior public officials who are increasingly recognising records management as an important aspect of public sector reform.

This paper aims to assess how the South African National Standard (SANS) 15489 improves the importance and usability of the archives at the University of Venda (UNIVEN) and the University of Witwatersrand (WITS).

Both quantitative and qualitative methods are used to assess how the standards improve the importance and usability of the archives. A total of 34 participants were selected to participate in the study; the choice of the population was because they are responsible for records management decisions in various divisions, departments and units. Data was obtained through structured interviews and observation. The study has established that there was much dissonance concerning records and archives management standards. Ethics approval was obtained from both the WITS and the UNIVEN research department. Informed consent was obtained from university staff members.

The research found that only the WITS adopted SANS 15489. This was shown by the availability of a classification system (file plan) and retention schedule while the UNIVEN did not value SANS 15489 standards to manage all records created.

Although South Africa has 26 public universities, this study is only confined to the UNIVEN and the WITS. The researcher only focusses on the classification of records and disposal of records elements of SANS 15489.

The findings have practical implications in that they can be used for assessing the archives and records management programmes. Other related universities can also use the findings as a reference point in the planning of university archives and records management programmes.

The findings were to assist the university authorities as decision and policymakers to ensure that records and archives management practices adhere to SANS 15489.

Few studies related to the assessment of records management programme in universities in South Africa is not yet fully conducted in South Africa public universities. This study could be a valuable input for universities to adopt SANS 15489 standards to develop and implement records management programmes.

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the current state of web archiving in Australia, and how libraries are adapting their services in recognition of the expanding role that online material plays in their collections.

The National Library of Australia is the lead institution for digital archiving and preservation in Australia. Its PANDORA Archive has been the repository for archived web resources in Australia for over ten years and is a mature but continually developing system. The archival management system PANDAS that underpins the Archive, is as of 2007, in its third major revision. Other web archiving activities also now include annual Australian Domain Harvests and the usage of Archive‐It, both of which are conducted in conjunction with the Internet Archive.

For many years it was considered that archiving could only ever completely capture a small, albeit representative, sample of the internet. Today the gap between what is available and what can be archived is decreasing. But as our archives and our archiving abilities increase, we are still confronted by new technologies and Web 2.0 applications.

Using as an example the 2007 Federal Election in which a large number of interactive sites such as Kevin07, MySpace and YouTube were archived the paper shows how Australian web archivers continue to adapt to and meet new challenges.

Several factors must align if web accessibility can be achieved and maintained. It is critical that web developers, designers, and content creators each know what to do. Moreover, it is vital that administrators create systems to support enterprise-wide web accessibility. The chapter will cover key issues found in education, predominantly higher education, and share resources to accomplish this complex endeavor.