Seamless Flow

“Seamless Flow”

David Thomas

Director of Collections and Technology

The National Archives

Seamless Flow

A new vision for The National ArchivesSeamless Flow

28th November 2006

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Seamless Flow Programme

• Digital Records Life Cycle Management (Seamless Flow)– Creation

– Selection

– Transfer

– Archiving

– Preservation

– Presentation

• Why we all need to change

• How The National Archives will respond

• Our Vision and the Seamless Flow Programme

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The world and TNA today

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Grappling with major change challenges – and need to

reinforce roles

• ‘Paradigm shift’ in most elements of work – from record capture to preservation

• Focusing on ‘information management’ as they attempt to dovetail initiatives and guidance from FOI to data protection and re-use

• Merging management of ‘records’ and ‘information’… clarity disappearing

• Requiring very different skills base – in addition to traditional skills

• Struggling to raise their profile within their organisations/ industries to ensure importance recognised

Wider information management community

Government

Other information players

TechnologyUsers & researchers

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The Vision and

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We’ve moved from a predictable world of paper to a volatile world of information of all kinds. Government and the wider information sector need better information management to strengthen accountability and get the most from their assets.

The Vision

1. Lead and transform information management

The Challenges

Seamless Flow Leading the development of e-appraisal techniques and

automated systems for capture and storage of digital records

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In addition to preserving the nation’s existing paper records, we need to rise to the new challenge of ensuring the survival of digital information for future generations.

The Challenges

The Vision2. Guarantee the survival of today’s information for

tomorrow

Seamless Flow Building secure storage and preservation systems

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Increasingly people expect to find, use and learn from information online. They expect it to be personalised and connected to their wider life. They expect it now.

The Challenges

The Vision

3. Bring history to life for everyone

Seamless FlowDeveloping modern systems to search and present our history

online

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The Vision

• Lead and transform information management

• Guarantee the survival of today’s information for tomorrow

• Bring history to life for everyone

How this fits with our values

The Values

• Putting customers first

• Responsible guardians

• Setting open information free

• Trusted to deliver

• Working together

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Welcome to the

Seamless Flow World

All you wanted to know about S… but were afraid to ask!

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The Life and Times of a Born Digital Record

Creation Selection Transfer/Catalogue

Archiving Preservation Presentation

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Civil Servant at Work

What types of electronic record can we create?

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Selected for Archiving

How do we appraise and select records for archiving?

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Transfer to TNA

How can we transfer records to TNA for archiving?

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Load into Digital Store

What issues do we need to consider when holding records?

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Preserve Record

Why do we need to take action to preserve electronic records?

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Make a Presentation Copy

How can we make records available for the public to see?

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Customer Access

What forms could customer access take?