Module 4: Text 2

e-TERM reference*

TKB6

Version no.*

2

Version date*

2002-03-01

Contributor*

Barata, Kimberly J; revised Yeo, Geoffrey

Author/s*

Wallace, David A.

Title*

Background Briefing on the State of Electronic Records Research and Implementations Across the World

Print availability

-

Electronic availability

Bearman, David, Barata, Kimberly and Trant, Jennifer, eds. Electronic Records Research 1997: Resource Materials (CD). (Pittsburgh, PA: Archives and Museum Informatics, 1998). CD-ROM

Copyright

© David Wallace

Introduction

The article is intended to help frame the context within which the Working Meeting on Electronic Records (held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA in 1997) focused its intellectual and analytical efforts. The report provides a brief synopsis of previous meetings on electronic records research. It tracks the evolution of archival and records management thinking on how best to confront the challenges presented to recordkeeping by the computing environment.

To facilitate the connections between commentaries and findings from previous meetings and this one, this report is structured to mirror the framework of the 1997 working meeting. As such, it is composed of five sections: 1. Definitions of Electronic Records, 2. Developing Policy Frameworks, 3. Record Creating Events, 4. Capturing Records, 5. Maintaining and Using Records. Each of these sections is analysed along two major dimensions: 1. An explication of the research issues associated with each section's subject, delineating why the subject is considered a problem in need of research and 2. An explication of the research and implementations related to the section's subject as described in previous meetings, focusing on conclusions drawn and strategies deployed for managing electronic records.

Dr Wallace's article provides a useful introduction to the results of research into the management of electronic records, undertaken before 1997.

Dr David Wallace is an assistant professor at The School of Information at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor Michigan.

Relevance

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Concepts*

Content
Context
Electronic records
Functional requirements
Information system
Metadata
Migration
Policy
Preservation
Recordkeeping strategies
Recordkeeping system
Research
Standards
Storage media
Structure
Systems design
Systems implementation

Cases

-

Module no.*

4

Role

-

Contribution to learning objectives*

Study of this text will contribute to the following learning objectives:

Preliminary reading

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Reading help

The article is only 27 pages and should be read in its entirety. However, pages 10-16 should be read more carefully.

Discussion

The paper raises and attempts to answer a number of questions. Look at the questions posed at the beginning of each section under 'Issues'. Does the author ask the right questions? What questions are missing?

Assignment

Describe within 3 pages an electronic records research project that would of use to your organisation. What is the aim of the project? What are the objectives? What practical application would it have? Who would have to be involved? How would it have wider effect outside your organisation?

Further reading

Thibodeau, Kenneth, Moore, Reagan, and Baru, Chaitanya. 'Persistent Object Preservation: Advanced Computing Infrastructure for Digital Preservation.' DLM Forum 99, Brussels, Belgium, 18 October 1999. http://europa.eu.int/ISPO/dlm/
fulltext/full_thib_en.htm

Heazlewood, Justine, et al. 'Electronic Records: Problem Solved: A Report on the Public Record Office Victoria's Electronic Records Strategy.' Archives and Manuscripts 27:1 (May 1999): 96-113. http://www.prov.vic.gov.au/vers/published/am.pdf

McKemmish, S, Acland, G, Ward, N, and Reed, B. 'Describing Records in Context in the Continuum: The Australian recordkeeping metadata Schema.' Archivaria 48 (Fall 1999). http://rcrg.dstc.edu.au/publications/archiv01.htm

Duranti, Luciana, and MacNeil, Heather. 'Ensuring the Integrity of electronic records: An Overview of the UBC-MAS Research Project.' Archivaria 42 (Fall 1996): 46-67.

Duff, Wendy. Ensuring the Preservation of Reliable Evidence: A Research Project Funded by the NHPRC.' Archivaria 42 (Fall 1996): 28-45.