The future of archives and archives of the future may depend on the actions pursuit by archivists to bring archival representation system up to date to reflect the dynamic and multi-faceted digital reality. New technologies have changed the traditional archival system and digitized and born digital repositories have grown in rapidly, raising the interest of archival methods of organizing digital repositories. In this electronic era, computer hard drive has taken the place of file cabinet and more and more records have been created and stored digitally, reflecting the image of archives of the future. Archives of the future organize records in different way and will not support physical files. The simple definition of archive is the place where old things live. The archive is a place constituted of memories and yet, paradoxically it is also constitution of memory. Without archives, we cannot record memories; they have to be mediated through archives before they can be recalled. Our power of recall is contingent on how well we have classified and preserved the past in our archives (Narayan, 2013). Regional Centre for Strategic Studies (RCSS) is an independent non-governmental, non-profit making organization centrally located in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Set up in 1993, RCSS is engaged in activities ranging from collaborative research, dialogue and networking, interacting with similar organizations on key regional and international issues relating to security, stability, conflict resolution, confidence building and regional cooperation and provides services of a Library with a wide selection of books and modern facilities for access of information. RCSS library maintains extensive collection of electronic repository (e-repository) on South Asian Security Studies. The library of RCSS has created a blog (http://kamani- strategicstudies.blogspot.com/) on Strategic Studies and a Digital Reference Library Portal on South Asian Strategic Studies and International Relations (http://rcss.asia/) to provide effective information services regionally and globally. Based on the author’s experience, this paper briefly reviews literature to demonstrate the importance of blogs in libraries and web 2.0 applications in archives.

1. The Application of Web 2.0 Technology in Digital
Archival Repositories
View from Regional Centre for Strategic Studies (RCSS)
Kamani Perera
Librarian, Regional Centre for Strategic Studies,
Colombo
k_vithana@yahoo.com; kvithana@gmail.com

2. Outline
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Introduction
Web 2.0 and Archives
Archive and Archivist
The Role of Archives
Digital Archiving – Benefits
The Purpose of Archives
Conclusion

3. Introduction
• What is archive?
– the place where old things live
– the place constituted of
memories
– record memories
• What matters depend on the
future of archives and archives
of the future?
- actions pursuit by archivists
- archival representation system
- dynamic and multi-faceted
digital reality

4. Web 2.0 and Archives
• Social Media Tools
– Not new
– Available everywhere
– Empower and enable
conversations digitally
– Speak at people
– Speak with people
– Give people something more
– Natural evolution of the web
– Focus on users
– Active participation

5. RCSS Blog on Strategic Studies
http://kamani-strategicstudies.blogspot.com

6. RCSS Blog Statistics 2011 – 2013
(As at 03 December 2013)
Country
United States
Page Views
26,643
Russia
8300
United Kingdom
6579
India
4845
Germany
4399
Sri Lanka
3820
Ukraine
2530
France
2347
Netherlands
1870
Spain
1798
Total
95,835

7. Research Areas
Welcome Message
RCSS Digital Reference Library Portal on South Asian Strategic
Studies and International Relations (http://rcss.asia/)
Armed Conflicts
Welcome to the RCSS digital reference library. The main aim of this
portal is to serve as an online forum where research and knowledge on
issues relevant to South Asian security are shared and preserved.
CBRN
Civil Military Relationship
RCSS is committed to open source information and strongly believes in
reaching this information to the widest audience possible with the goal
Cyber Threats
of cultivating a well informed South Asian strategic community. The
content on this portal is sourced from various organizations working in
the region. To begin with the portal provides a searchable database of
Defense
Democracy
all RCSS publication. Eventually we aim to add on to the database all
relevant articles and publications relevant to South Asian security, and
constantly update it thereafter. We welcome any feedback you may
Demography
have for us to serve you better.
Development & Security
Disarmament
Kodikara Library
Disaster Management
Economy
Search
What's New ...
Energy
Environment
Research Areas
Foreign Policy
Future Studies
Country /Region
Gender
AND
All
Search
Governance
Rumel Dahiya, editor
Human Security
Advanced Search
Internal Security
International Law
Maldives
Maritime Security
Media
Latest Additions
Book
Migration
Chapter
Military
Journal Article
Non-traditional Security
Peace-building
Developments in the
Gulf Region: Prospects
and Challeng for I
es
ndia
in the Next Two
Decades
All
Monograph
2013

8. Archive and Archivist
• Archive
– Making records
accessible
• Archivists
– Custodian of the
archive
– Keepers of old things
– Make other people’s
work possible
– Unknown people
Smithsonian Institution Archives On-site Collection Storage, Capital Gallery, 2009, by Jennifer Wright.

9. The Role of Archives
Future of Archives
Archives of the Future
Cloud archives
• Produce community
engagement
• Archival digitization
– Connect records
– Create a holistic
representation
• Support research
Future of Archives
Archives of the Future
–
–
–
–
Virtual
Digitized
Born digital
Cloud archives

10. Digital Archiving – Benefits
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Archive the traditional knowledge
Keep material for present and future use
Avoid duplication
Protect rare material
Preserve cultural heritage and history
Reduce cost
Reduce deterioration
Worldwide access at any time, any device
Maintains historical value
No physical space required

11. The Purpose of Archives
Why?
•Courts use them to verify and protect the
rights of individuals and groups
•Police use them to review and re-open old
criminal cases
•Lawyers use them to settle old land claims
and defend the government
•Public servants and journalists study the
records to learn how previous governments
dealt with similar problems in the past.
•Medical researchers use them to study the
progress and treatment of diseases.

12. The Purpose of Archives contd.
• Environmental researchers track climate
change and pollution through historical data.
• The public uses the records to verify and secure
pensions and other entitlements.
• Families trace their history through birth,
death, marriage and land-ownership records.
• Historians, authors and filmmakers access
them as authentic sources of information about
the past.
• Communities use the archival records to
identify and protect other valuable heritage
resources such as local historical buildings
(Wilson, 2004).

13. Conclusion
• Archives of the
future - easy to
remember with
new technologies
• Web 2.0
technologies are
currently being
implemented by
over 80% archives
(Thorman, 2012)
Thank You
Department of National Archives, Sri Lanka