Princípios fundamentais para um enfoque global da administração de arquivos e documentos

Abstract/Résumé/Resumen

In this paper, the author begins by examining the characteristics of relevant sources of information useful for development in past and recent societies, particularly the sources used by governments. Next, he tries to set up some working definitions of the category of information, i.e., as either published or unpublished information, and he adopts the term records as designating all recorded information regardless of the physical form of the record. He also includes under the term record all audio-visual, cartographic, and electronic documentation involved in or related to the transaction of the business of an institution or organization in the conduct of its business. Then, the author suggests that the term document be used as equivalent of record, provided it is recognized that records are documents that have both an official and a legal status based upon their institutional or organizational context. The author considers also the difficulties involved in the storage of the huge amount of information produced nowadays. He concludes his article with some observations on the challenges posed to traditional Records Management and Archival Administration by the application of electronic technology to records.