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Re: Social & ethical issues for archivists and records managers
Marcus, I have an example for you. I am involved
in an ongoing research project exploring record keeping practices in a number of
failed Jamaican commercial banks. My research clearly points to the fact
that social and technological influences on record creation and keeping
practices played a role in preventing the banks' managers, directors,
shareholders and regulators from accessing the quality of information needed for
internal control of operations, to assess the banks' financial positions and
risk exposures and to control fraud. While it cannot be argued that poor
record keeping practices alone caused the bank failures, in combination with
other factors (eg, macro-economic conditions), these practices can definitely be
implicated. By the way, the bank failures have cost the Jamaican
Government and people some $Jamaican 130 billion ($US 4.6 billion). In the
case of Jamaica, the critical role of record making and keeping practices was
not understood. It is only after the fact that we are able to see the
damage they caused. I believe we, as archivists, have a professional
responsibility to speak out to educate the public, private sector business
leaders, governments, and others about the lessons learned from experiences such
as Jamaica's.
To the
list:
Wow. A listserv dedicated to archivists interested in
social justice! I think Rick's missive from down under summed up many
issues relative to records and social justice. I have one question based
on the following statement:
There are just too
many cases in which
records are being manipulated or destroyed illegally or
unethically in
countries all over the world for professionals to ignore.
Aside from obvious examples in the U.S., do you (Rick) have
any other important examples to share?
Also, Rick seems fairly
positive about how the large professional organizations (SAA, ARMA) are
responding to the issue of social justice and archives? I am not quite
sure I agree with his assessment and wonder what others think.
Finally, is our role to simply speak out on social justice /
progressive issues relative to archives, or can we take a political stand on
other issues? For example, I am a strong support of the Green Party and
its emphasis on local democracy and empowerment. Since control of
information and records is a key of local control and democracy, can an
argument be made for the profession to support the Greens?
Just
some thoughts,
Marcus
______________________ Marcus C. Robyns,
CA &n
be and not do is not to be at all
Assistant Professor / University
Archivist
Northern Michigan
University
1401 Presque
Isle
227-1225
Marquette, MI
49855
227-1333 (fax)
Visit the Central Upper Peninsula and Northern
Michigan University Archives
at:
http://www.n
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