According to researchers at the University of Southern California (Washington Post, 2011), the world's storage capacity for digital data increased from 0.2 billion gigabytes in 1986 to 276 billion gigabytes by 2007 (at the same time analogue storage capacity increased from 2.6 to 18.9 billion gigabytes). This huge growth is often seen in…

Gathering and displaying governance documents and photos online can help educate the public, promote transparency, and preserve historical artifacts. Under the leadership of a board chair with lifelong interest in history and respect for the historical record, the Office of the Board of Regents of the University of Texas System has discovered that…

This paper presents a summary of the policies and practices that have governed the accessioning and use of artifacts in the National Archives chiefly over the last decade, and it offers recommendations for the prospective relocation and utilization of artifacts at Archives II. The report is organized around three major headings: a treatment of the…

The objectives of this project were to assist the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) in developing a policy for the representation, transfer, access, and preservation of electronic records of permanent value. A lack of attention to the management, retention, and selective preservation of these machine-readable records will result…

Discusses the user benefits of write-once optical storage devices; describes typical applications in archival storage, one-off complex instruction sets, and information storage and retrieval systems; and identifies current trends toward standardization of equipment. (CLB)

Argues against sanctioning the removal of public documents from public control since completeness is a fundamental principle of the archival profession, but suggests that the National Archives would be disinclined to seek the return of alienated records that were publicly accessible and professionally preserved. (Author/JD)

Discusses the basic issues and practices in the administration of photographic collections, specifically with respect to the preservation of photographic materials, the organization of photographic files, and the cataloging of photographs under the Anglo American Cataloging Rules. An 18-item bibliography is included. (JL)

Reviews requirements for a data archive system and describes storage media alternatives that are currently available. Topics discussed include data storage; data distribution; hierarchical storage architecture, including inline storage, online storage, nearline storage, and offline storage; magnetic disks; optical disks; conventional magnetic…

On January 24, 2000, the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) convened a group of experts from different domains of the information resources community to address the question, "What is an authentic digital object?" Five writers--an archivist, a digital library expert, a documentary editor and special collections…

Discusses issues that must be addressed when archivists consider whether to join in cooperative preservation microfilming projects. Highlights include the pros and cons of microfilming, project planning needs, physical preparation, intellectual control (i.e., the order of the materials on the film), quality control inspection, cataloging,…

Presents concept of preventive conservation of archival records as a new science resulting from the use of modern techniques and chemicals. Various techniques for storage, proper environment, preventive de-acidification, fire prevention, restoration, and staff considerations are described. References are provided. (EJS)

Describes CD-Recordable (Compact Disk-Recordable) as an economical information storage medium. Business and government applications are discussed, including prototyping, archiving and back-up, sales, marketing, accounting, and customer support and service. Future possibilities are also considered. (LRW)

Examines the institutional, intellectual and conceptual differences between library and archives management, and identifies shared concerns and problems arising from developments in information technology. The need for the incorporation of information science concepts in the professional education of archivists and librarians is discussed. (CLB)

Examines changes in emphasis on collection development and conservation in both library and archival materials in recent years, and outlines evaluative criteria and priorities to be used in formulating collection management policy. (CLB)

This publication reviews means of access to information contained in the public archives (current administrative documents and archival records) and private archives (manuscripts of personal or family origin) of many countries and makes recommendations for improving access to archival information. Sections describe: (1) the origin and development…