Articles

The Personality of Electronic Records: The Impact of New Information Technology on Personal Papers

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Abstract

This essay considers the changing nature of personal materials in the digital age by examining changes in "personal" means of expression and "paper" formats. Much recent research in the profession has focused on electronic records, but the vast majority of it has dealt only with organizational records. The authors argue that new communications media offer increased opportunities to document the lives of individuals as we exist outside of organizational functions, but that archivists will need to consider broader societal implications of these innovations before collecting these materials. They analyze some possible strategies for archival retention of personal electronic records, and urge archivists to engage in further thought and discussion about how best to identify and preserve these materials.

How to Cite:

Hyry, T. & Onuf, R., (1997) “The Personality of Electronic Records: The Impact of New Information Technology on Personal Papers”, Archival Issues 22(1), 37–44. doi: https://doi.org/10.31274/archivalissues.10459