Session 31 - Discovering the need for electronic record preservation and an archives management system: The year that we implemented both ArchivesSpace and Preservica!

A natural disaster and a pandemic were the catalysts for the Greene County Archives to realize that electronic records preservation needed to become a priority. At the same time the Archives was notified that their home-grown data management system would no longer be supported after 2024. Follow the journey of Archives’ staff as they purchase a digital preservation system and an archival management system and the educational process that transpired over the next year. This session will provide a look into how Greene County searched for both an electronic preservation and archives management system; the process of getting buy-in from other county offices/departments; the educational process of learning two systems at once; the process of setting priorities based on the reality of a local government repository; the process of establishing a training program for other county staff members; changes in policies and procedures to reflect the new systems; and ultimately the reward as staff begin to see both systems come together.

This session will benefit members from local government repositories by providing them with details on how to implement an archival management system and a digital preservation system; describe how the Greene County Archives had to set priorities based on their current situation, budget, and staffing; and illustrate how the Greene County Archives has made records more accessible to both county employees and the public.

Target Audience: Local

Focus Areas: Archives, Records Management, Technology/Tools

Presenters: Robin Heise, Records Manager & Archivist, Greene County Records Center and Archives, and Elise Kelly, Multimedia Archivist, Greene County Records Center and Archives