A Framework for the Development of Archival Information Systems

Abstract

In this thesis a framework for the development of an Archival Information Systems are proposed. IT community and long-term digital preservation research has not addressed the development of digital archival tools. It community addresses Archives and digital archiving almost as a storage place aimed for backup services. Long-term digital preservation research has put efforts in metadata research, and in the use of different preservation techniques in order to preserve digitally stored information. Archival Information Systems is and its development is a natural part of the field of Long-term Digital Preservation. Archival Information Systems are aimed to receive maintain, support digital preservation issues and give access to digitally stored information. This digitally stored information consists in different kind of documents or records physically manifested in computer files, databases, etc. Archival Information Systems are a special kind of Information Systems. As every specialized kind of Information System, Archival Information Systems development must be preceded by a specialized way of thinking. This thesis proposes a specialized way of thinking, a framework, for the development of Archival Information Systems. The proposed framework is based on The Records Continuum Model and The OAIS Reference Model as major fundaments. The framework consists on six levels of substitutionality. The lowest level, the software, is prone to high substitutionality. The highest levels are constituted by The OAIS Reference Model and The Records Continuum as the highest. The framework is a theoretical approach to Archival Information Systems Development and explained in terms of epistemological and ontological for it. Some important epistemological and ontological principles for Archival Information Systems are: Dealing with Archival Information System is dealing with making digital recorded information accessible. Records are logical rather than physical entities. Records have continuing value by means of information exchangeability. Forward Compatibility is achieved by means of open attitude and open standards. Accessibility and long-term preservation is stretching the longevity of records across time-space. This framework had been tested theoretically based on the expertise from Information Systems developers working in archival organizations. This evaluation shows strengths and weaknesses in the framework and the need of further development of it, and calls for putting forward efforts in deeper research of the framework, Archival Information Systems and long-term digital preservation issues.

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