Greatest Digital Archiving Challenge of All

The greatest digital archiving challenge of all is documenting change and continuity over time. We refer to it as Cloud Control.

As archiving technologies change, people and processes are modified. An institution continues to create, manage and archive its materials. But whether it’s intellectual property, content, communications, or anything else, digital assets and electronic records help document continuity and change over time.

Many institutions focus attention towards current, near-term or ongoing projects throughout the year. With good reason! They make deliverables or deliver results.  Whether assets are stored on a shared drive or on a centralized system, they gain enduring value. Assets serve a function whether they serve one or more users. You must manage information actively to manage it effectively. Greater awareness and better arrangement and description improves search and navigation.

Documenting Change and Continuity Over Time

Documenting change and continuity can be synchronic (point-in-time) or diachronic (over-time). The notion that IP exists at any point in time, and not just as a post-hoc arrangement, posits that the role of the archivist is key. S/he could exist as part of an integrated records continuum and a holistic information ecosystem approach. This model is based on authority and context control of the content.  Appraisal provides authority control when focused on function or provenance (creator). Arrangement and description captures relevant metadata. This will improve physical and intellectual control. A comprehensive understanding of ownership, usage, users, and chain-of-custody rules are critical. They lay the foundation for an effective digital archiving system that provides authority, accountability, transparency, and builds trust.

Documenting change and continuity simultaneously is critical.  Interpreting materials may change over time, but active and effective content management helps quantify and protect content.  Cloud control analysis identifies patterns and helps set priorities related to content that can be optimized.

To learn more or to discuss your situation, contact us!