This is a book of fresh insights, perspectives, strategies, and approaches for managing electronic records and for addressing the implications for archival programs operating in a digital environment. The authors draw on first-hand experience to present practical solutions, including recommendations for building and sustaining strong electronic records programs. The book addresses several themes: ·Historical development of digital technologies and their impact on records creation and recordkeeping practices ·Definition and concept of "electronic record" ·Institutional and legal contexts for development of electronic records policies ·Roles for archival and records management programs in broader digital initiatives of their parent institutions ·Moving from theory to practice ·Strategies for developing and sustaining successful programs, including leadership approaches, partnering with records creators, fostering development of new knowledge, skills, and abilities for information professionals, and adapting and customizing programs.
One of the biggest challenges faced by any organization today is that of managing electronic records, a vital but complex undertaking involving multiple roles within the organization and strategies that are still evolving. Bringing together for the first time the views, experience and expertise of international experts in the records management field in the public and the private sectors, this book covers the theory and practice of managing electronic records as business and information assets. It focuses on the strategies, systems and procedures necessary to ensure that electronic records are appropriately created, captured, organized and retained over time to meet business and legal requirements. In addition to chapters covering principles, research and developments, there are case studies relating to practice and lessons learned. The chapters are written by a fully international line-up of contributors. Readership: This book explores issues and addresses solutions, not only for records professionals but also for information, IT and business administration specialists, who, as key stakeholders in managing electronic information, may have taken on crucial roles in managing electronic records in their organization. It will also be a key textbook for records management courses.
This book identifies key factors necessary for a well-functioning information infrastructure and explores how information culture impacts the management of public information, stressing the need for a proactive and holistic information management approach amidst e-Government development. In an effort to deal with an organization's scattered information resources, Enterprise Content Management, Records Management and Information Culture Amidst E-Government Development investigates the key differences between Enterprise Content Management (ECM) and Records Management (RM), the impact of e-Government development on information management and the role of information in enhancing accountability and transparency of government institutions. The book hence identifies factors that contribute to a well-functioning information infrastructure and further explores how information culture impacts the management of public information. It highlights the Records Continuum Model (RCM) thinking as a more progressive way of managing digital information in an era of pluralization of government information. It also emphasizes the need for information/records management skills amidst e-Government development. Ideas about records, information, and content management have fundamentally changed and developed because of increasing digitalization. Though not fully harmonized, these new ideas commonly stress and underpin the need for a proactive and holistic information management approach. The proactive approach entails planning for the management of the entire information continuum before the information is created. For private enterprises and government institutions endeavoring to meet new information demands from customers, citizens and the society at large, such an approach is a prerequisite for accomplishing their missions. It could be argued that information is and has always been essential to all human activities and we are witnessing a transformation of the information landscape. - Presents research with broad application based on archives and information science, but relevant for information systems, records management, information culture, and e-government - Examines the differences between Enterprise Content Management and Records Management - Bridges a gap between the proponents of Enterprise Content Management and information professionals, such as records managers and archivists
Newly revised and updated to more thoroughly address our increasingly digital world, including integration of digital records and audiovisual records into each chapter, it remains the clearest and most comprehensive guide to the discipline.
We are now entering a world of electronic communications where an increasing amount of contemporary information is created and retained only in electronic form. How will such unstable flows of information be preserved for future historians? Will the future have a past? Will the history of ourcontemporary world be lost to our descendants? History and Electronic Artefacts is the first publication to examine the implications of this revolution for historical research. Historians are used to handling paper and parchment record in archives. These are actual pieces of correspondence which passed between historical actors. They are alsorelatively stable artefacts which can be preserved easily. Two factors introduced by the electronic revolution threaten the existence of paper archives: the dissociation between information content and the media by which it is transmitted ruptures the solidity of the archival object. The ability tostore electronic information anywhere and access it remotely via networks could make the central paper archive redundant. Experts from the fields of information management and technology, data archiving, library science, as well as historians, consider the issues raised in depth. The authors also place a unique emphasis on European developments.
Many organizations do not yet have a formal programme of records management, but increasingly they are recognizing the benefits of well managed records and the serious consequences of inadequate records systems. Establishing records management and maintaining an effective programme requires specialist expertise. This essential manual of practice provides a detailed guide to the concepts, skills and techniques of records management for organizational staff who have a responsibility for setting up, maintaining or restructuring a records management programme. It offers invaluable advice on the management of records in both electronic and traditional paper media, and focuses on the following areas: understanding records management analysing the context for records management classifying records and documenting their context creating and capturing records; managing appraisal, retention and disposition maintaining records and assuring their integrity providing access implementing records management. The appendices provide a wealth of additional information including a list of standards for records management, an annotated bibliography and sources of further information, and details of professional and advisory bodies. Readership: This much needed manual is an indispensable purchase for organizations wishing to introduce better practices for managing their records. The book is intended to be of value to experienced records managers as well as LIS practitioners and newcomers to the field. It should be on the desk of every manager and every information professional with responsibility for records management.
This valuable resource provides information on best practices and solutions to successfully establish an archival programme; it uses a practical approach, without the use of technical or theoretical jargon. Additionally it serves as a companion text in a theoretical archival course. The book provides easy-to-follow advice on how to assess the information needs of any institution and the greater community for which the archives were created to serve. Guidelines for achievable goals are provided for starting an archives programme in an environment where a small budget or even a 'no budget' can threaten the future of the archives. - First book that attempts to de-mystify archives - Practical approaches without the use of technical jargon - Easy to follow Plans of Action
