Digital preservation. The conduit through which open data, electronic government and the right to information are implemented
| Published date | 21 November 2016 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/LHT-07-2016-0078 |
| Date | 21 November 2016 |
| Pages | 733-747 |
| Author | Kofi Koranteng Adu,Luyande Dube,Emmanuel Adjei |
| Subject Matter | Library & information science,Librarianship/library management,Library technology,Information behaviour & retrieval,Information user studies,Metadata,Information & knowledge management,Information & communications technology,Internet |
Digital preservation
The conduit through which open data,
electronic government and the right to
information are implemented
Kofi Koranteng Adu and Luyande Dube
Department of Information Science, University of South Africa,
Pretoria, South Africa, and
Emmanuel Adjei
Department of Information Studies, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this paper is to explore the extent to which digital preservation facilitate the
implementation of electronic government, open data and the right to information.
Design/methodology/approach –A case study research which chronicles the link between
transparency and data availability. It makes use of a theoretical framework based on the open archival
information system to analyse, explain, clarify and justify the application of open data, electronic
government and the right to information.
Findings –The paper argued that e-government, open data and the RTI will remain elusive if a digital
preservation infrastructure is not pursued. Within the context of e-government, the paper adumbrated
that government agencies can incorporate e-government legislations into their digital preservation
activities, precisely because the relationship between digital preservation and e-government
have always been symbiotic. It alluded to the fact that an obligation will be placed on all public
authorities and private agencies covered by the RTL law to create, keep and organise an effective and
efficient system of record keeping, so as to give meaning to the right to information when citizens
apply for information.
Practical implications –Future research should examine closely the implication of open data
government within thecontext of digital preservation. Whilst digital preservation looksforward to the
longevityof digital records and its accessibility, open datafocusses on the utility of theserecords through
online services, reuse and distribution for thepurposes of transparency and citizens’participation.
Originality/value –The application of digital preservation to open data in this paper appears to be
more relevant at a time when most governments of the world are striving to obtain data to fight
poverty, achieve universal primary education, fight HIV and foster maternal health. Its originality can
further be established from the symbiotic relationship between digital preservation and electronic
government, open data and the right to information.
Keywords Electronic government, Digital preservation, Open data,
International Council on Archives, Open archival information system, Right to information
Paper type Conceptual paper
1. Introduction
The global perspective on digital revolution is one that has received a rapturous
approval from information professionals, scholars and practitioners presumably
because it has influenced the way information is gathered, managed, processed, stored
and accessed. Accordingly, various governments are supporting the shift to dig ital
records and preservation through a number of legislations and changes in policy
(Government of Canada (GOC), 2012; Bibliothèque nationale de France, 2014; National
Information Technology of Authority, 2008). In an attempt to catch up with the
development of ICT in the world, the government of Ghana in February 2004 enacted
Library Hi Tech
Vol. 34 No. 4, 2016
pp. 733-747
©Emerald Group Publis hing Limited
0737-8831
DOI 10.1108/LHT-07-2016-0078
Received 14 July 2016
Revised 16 September 2016
5 October 2016
Accepted 14 October 2016
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:
www.emeraldinsight.com/0737-8831.htm
733
Digital
preservation
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