Współczesne uwarunkowania i perspektywy działalności naukowej archiwów – próba diagnozy

Abstract

The scientific activity of the state archives has been visibly regressing for several years and it has been regarded critically by the archival community. The article outlines the current state of scientific activity of the state archives. The most important problem areas requiring in-depth analysis and a discussion within the archival community have been proposed. The author presented the priority research needs of contemporary archivistics, in which scientific research is essential for the further development of archives. These are: contemporary electronic office and methods of shaping the documents accrual (management of large archival data sets, metadata standards, creation of information retrieval models, selection and evaluation of electronic and mixed documentation, issues of permanent storage of documents created in electronic and hybrid documentation systems); institutional development of state archives (IT systems for fonds management), smart buildings systems for archival buildings, modern methods of preventive maintenance and conservation; archival methodology (boundaries and research tools of contemporary archival methodology, taking into account the diversity of forms and types of documentation). Moreover, the need to undertake interdisciplinary research in the field of digital humanities was indicated, as well as to develop a modern dictionary of terminology of archival science and works developing the principles of editing 20th and 21st century archival sources, taking into account their new digital and Internet forms. Proposals of preferred organizational solutions in the area of scientific activity of archives were discussed, taking into account the new organization of science in Poland resulting from the 2018 reform: establishment of an archival school and a system of academic grants in cooperation with the Association of Polish Archivists.