Archives in the Digital Age

Introduction

Today, archives represent, in almost all the meanings of different countries, all documents, whatever their date, nature or medium, produced or received by any individual or legal entity in the course of their administrative activities. These documents are kept for their information, proof and/or testimony value. The term “archives“ also refers to the place where these documents are kept (building or conservation premises). In addition to being evidence and guarantors of rights, archives can also be objects of historical and scientific research. As a result, the majority of states have developed archive services open to the public and legal texts that oblige administrations to hand over to these services those documents that no longer have administrative, financial and/or legal value and that have historical and/or scientific value.

Archives can be public, i.e. created by public bodies or entrusted with a public service mission, such as public establishments, consular services and ministerial officers. They can also be privately owned by individuals, families, associations or companies and are donated to the public archives through donations, deposits, legacies and other means. The distinction between these two categories is not always easy to make, because of the overlap that there may be in the documents of a politician, for example, between official functions and private activities arising from his or her responsibility to a party or parliament.

Moreover, whatever ...