Long‐term preservation of digital information in China: some problems and solutions

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper to describe the research work on the long‐term preservation of Chinese digital information funded by National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) since 2001.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper provides an overview, in text and figures, of ways in which e‐documents originating in China, in now obsolete formats, can be made readable again. Also, results of a recent survey of electronic records management in government and corporations are given.

Findings

The lifecycle management gap with respect to electronic records is highlighted and the main factors that restrict the Chinese anti‐disaster data backup plan are analysed. It is suggested that the data backup centre which can be accepted by small medium enterprises should be the e‐government disaster recovery centre for local government.

Originality/value

All the research results are useful for those who need to understand the long‐term preservation of Chinese digital information and electronic records management.

Citation

Liu, J. and Du, P. (2009), "Long‐term preservation of digital information in China: some problems and solutions", Program: electronic library and information systems, Vol. 43 No. 2, pp. 175-186. https://doi.org/10.1108/00330330910954389