Access to archives in the digital age
About this ebook
Recommendation No. R (2000) 13 on a European policy on access to archives was adopted by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on 13 July 2000 on the basis that archives constitute an essential and irreplaceable element of culture. The recommendation was the first international standard in this field and it formulated several principles with a view to inspiring sound policies in the member states on access to archives, through legislation or by bringing existing legislation into line with the recommendation.
Following the adoption of the recommendation, a pan-European survey on European states’ compliance with the recommendation was initiated. The results of the survey were published by the Council of Europe in 2005, Access to archives – A handbook of guidelines for implementation of Rec No. R (2000) 13 on a European policy on access to archives.
Two decades later, a new study has explored and evaluated the situation regarding access to archives in Council of Europe member states. This publication summarises the most important results of a Europe-wide survey on the situation of access to archives in general and on the implementation of Recommendation No. R (2000) 13 in particular. It highlights current and future challenges arising from digitisation and changing user expectations, thus providing background knowledge for civil servants and decision makers, archive authorities and archivists, the scientific community and civil society organisations.
About the author
The Council of Europe is the continent’s leading human rights organisation. It comprises 46 member states, including all members of the European Union. All Council of Europe member states have signed up to the European Convention on Human Rights, a treaty designed to protect human rights, democracy and the rule of law. The European Court of Human Rights oversees the implementation of the Convention in the member states.
Le Conseil de l’Europe est la principale organisation de défense des droits de l’homme du continent. Il comprend 46 États membres, dont l'ensemble des membres de l’Union européenne. Tous les États membres du Conseil de l’Europe ont signé la Convention européenne des droits de l’homme, un traité visant à protéger les droits de l’homme, la démocratie et l’État de droit. La Cour européenne des droits de l’homme contrôle la mise en œuvre de la Convention dans les États membres.
