The mapping, selecting and opening of data

Abstract

Purpose – This paper aims to share the contribution of records managers to the Open Government in the City Council of Girona (Catalonia), based on the strategy of participation in the Open Data project. Design/methodology/approach – The contribution of the Records Management Department is to facilitate locating data sets and to be responsible for the data selection processes. Records Management allows a first global identification of the functions, activities and producers, using the Records Classification Scheme and the General Register of Case Files. In addition, it can obtain a greater detail of information using the Application Catalogue and the Register of Personal Data Files. Findings – Records Management can contribute to data selection in the Open Data projects by the appraisal of data, also taking into consideration functions and records of the organization. At the same time, Open Data projects could reinforce the strategies of records preservation in databases, because the same extraction processes could be shared. In addition, Open Data projects could mean an opportunity for Historical Archives if they take charge of the maintenance of the Open Data Archive. This could be relevant in the future for the transformation of data from information systems into documentary heritage. Research limitations/implications – The opening of the city’s Open Government portal is scheduled for the beginning of 2014. Thus, it is necessary to consider this work as a work in progress. Originality/value – This work is a specific case study of the contribution of Records Management to the Open Data projects; its proposals and reflections have been made from a very practical point of view.