Understanding the Ongoing Archival Research on the Permanent Preservation of Electronic Records

Abstract

In the fast growing digital environment, assuring continued authenticity is an essential and intransigent preservation consideration for digital data and records. Several key issues need to be addressed, including: What are electronic records and data?; Which intellectual and technical elements of data and records are essential for assuring authenticity in electronic format?; How should these be maintained and preserved over time?; How are authentic data and records used in various systems of practice?; and What are the best strategies of preserving authentic electronic records and data?. There have been many research projects to answer these questions to date. This paper discusses the characteristics of electronic records in light of preservation consideration and reports the activities and findings of some of the research projects in brief. This paper focuses on explaining the InterPARES (International Research on Permanent Authentic Records in Electronic Systems) Project, which is defining requirements for authenticity that can help develop strategies for long-term preservation in electronic records. To identify those requirements, more than thirty case studies have been conducted with government agencies, academic institutions, and various organizations in America, Canada, Europe, Asia and Australia and models developed for appraisal, preservation, and strategies in relation to the management of electronic records. The paper also suggests research questions and implications for preserving authentic electronic records as well as the encouragement for Korean research on digital preservation.