The Paradigm Shift for Archives in the Information Society: From Keeper to Information Manager

Abstract

As elsewhere, Lithuania is having to respond to the changing paradigm shift for archives. Lithuanian archives have already responded to major change following the downfall of the totalitarian regime and the establishment of civil society in the 1990s. The transition to democracy also facilitated a change of approach for archives services which were responding to new demands: the increasing demand for evidence; a huge rise in visitor numbers; poor records management; and lack of a legislative framework. Common global developments such as the growth of IT and requirements of accountability also had an impact at national level. The Archives Act, predicated on the right of access to information and giving a strong mandate to the national archives service to contribute to national information management, was the key factor in the transition from ‘keeper’ of archives to information manager while the new customer focus has resulted in the need for a change in mentality in many existing staff. Change is often pai...