Digital preservation of potential records: recognizing and addressing the problem

Abstract

Introduction: Policies and procedures for the management and preservation of digital records and archival documents are increasingly rooted in the work processes and informational processes of the most diverse institutions. The extensive bibliography on the subject make it clear that is already a paved path regarding the creation, treatment and preservation of new digital records. But what about the millions of digital records that were produced, and still are, without respect for archival requirements? What to do when digital documents that originated from institutional activities and actions were not produced or maintained in a way that their authenticity and reliability can be verified? Objective: To address the problem presented by “archival” digital documents produced without technical requirements that allow inferences about their reliability and authenticity, proposing approaches to confront the situation. Methodology: An exploratory research methodology such as a bibliographic review on the subject is used, complemented with the analysis of the experience of selected institutions, with information collected through a directed form. Results: The literature offers subsidies for the identification and treatment of digital documents that have been produced without requirements that guarantee their qualification as archival. However, the experience of the institutions is still incipient, although it supports the treatment proposals discussed in this study. Conclusion: A potential solution scenario was observed, but still far from reality, due to the lack of mapping of the situation and the prioritization of facing the problem.