A Study On The Institution Of National Information Resources Preservation

Shaping the memory of a nation, information resources are essential representations of culture, politics, and economy of an era. In the knowledge-based economy society, information resources have become critical resources to promote social development. In order to realize the effective transmission of a nation’s memory and promote the exploitation of information resources, we need to preserve information resources effectively. As a result of social division of labor, libraries and other public information management institutions have assumed the responsibilities of information resources preservation in a society and play their own role in this respect. In the new information environment, the form of information resources has changed greatly; digital information resources with its proliferating formats and expanding quantity become the mainstream, which poses challenges to the preservation practice. In this context, preserving information resources effectively according to the environmental changes is critical in affecting social development. In fact, long-term preservation of information resources has become a hot topic of both theoretical research and practice interests internationally.This paper claims that, in order to adapt to the changing internal and external environments and to solve the problems of information resource preservation, we need to explore the model of information resources preservation, and examine related institutional issues. This will not only help to bring rationality and regularities to information resources preservation activities, but also realize optimal allocation of resources needed in information resources preservation activities and enhance its effectiveness and efficiency. This paper employs a mixture of literature analysis, comparative analysis, questionnaire surveys, field research, case analysis and other research methods, to understand the current situation of information resources preservation in China and to analyze related theories. Based on this, it explores the constitution of stakeholders and operating mechanism of information resources preservation activities, and aims to explore the construction of related information resources preservation institutions in accord to the actual situation of China.Chapter One is the literature review. It analyzes the theoretical research and practical progress of information resources preservation at the present stage. The literature survey shows that foreign studies in this area pay more attention to information resources preservation institutions, and apart from technical factors, they also emphasize studies on economic and legal factors. National studies home in this respect are relatively weak at present. We should learn from foreign experience of information resources preservation, and meanwhile we need to consider the actual situation for indigenization.Chapter Two investigates the status quo and problems on China’s information resources preservation. This part uses the combined method of questionnaire survey and literature survey, to understand the progress and condition of information resources preservation in our country, as well as the cognition of our library community workers towards issues related to information resources preservation. It presents that China’s problems on information resources preservation are mainly embodied in coverage of preserved resources, security of preservation funds, standardization of preserve procedures, standards application, cooperation in preservation, and so on.Chapter Three reflects the issues related to information resources preservation from theoretical perspectives. It analyzes the characteristics of information resources preservation activities by the use of information life cycle theory, the system science theory, public goods theory, presenting that information resources preservation activities are beneficial in extending the information life cycle, the institutional construction of national information resources preservation is a system engineering, the institution of national information resources preservation is public goods. Based on information right, it presents the meaning of information preservation right, which is defined as the right of collecting, archiving, managing, processing information resources to provide conditional services and ensure their long-term use. From the viewpoint of public information management agencies, it explains the legitimacy of information preservation right theory and its implications for information preservation activities. This part proposes the principles of national information resources preservation activities:the principle of country-led, the principle of public welfare, the principle of gradation preservation, the principle of classification preservation and the principle of balance of interests.Chapter Four analyzes the constitution of information resources preservation institutions. In digital environment, subjects who participate in the information resources preservation activities are more diverse. The different subjects, such as public sector, private sector and individuals, need good cooperation in order to enhance the efficiency of preservation activities. The types of included object resources are more enriched, which requires selecting resources by some relative standards, and emphasizing application of metadata and standard format on digital information resources. During the process, corresponding preservation right of digital information resources must be obtained to facilitate the preservation activities. Effective mechanisms of storage management and service management for the preserved information resources are also needed. Since the cost outlay of information resources preservation is huge, we need to establish an effective mechanism of funding commitment accordingly, to ensure long-term security of funding sources. Also we need to carry out assessment activities for the subject of information resource preservation and its implementation effect, to ameliorate the activities. In the analysis process, this chapter, combined with the investigation on library community workers, analyzes their views and suggestions about information resources preservation activities in China.Chapter Five analyzes the operating mode of national information resources preservation system, from the aspect of concrete sub-system. The systems discussed including:the legal deposit system that preserves national publications heritage integrally; the depository library system that preserves and exploits government information resources for long; the open depository system that preserves digital scholarly resources; off-site storage system centrally stores paper literature of low utilization rate. The implementation and operation of all these systems are closely linked with libraries. It analyzes the realization model of different systems, new direction of international development. According to China’s actual conditions and the investigation results, it proposes implementation and improvement suggestions on related systems operating in China.Chapter Six proposes suggestions on the optimization of China’s information resources preservation system, including strengthening the government’s leading role; increasing the supply of information resources preservation system; attaching importance to setting information resource preservation policy; building a good cooperation model; strengthening the construction and application of standards and norms; enhancing the core role played by libraries in preservation system.Chapter Seven summarizes the research of the dissertation, and points out the limitations of the study, and puts forward some research prospects in the future.11 diagrams,27 tables and 1 appendix are included.