ARANZ Submission on Draft Digital Strategy (6 August 2004)
This comment on the Draft Digital Strategy is submitted on behalf of the Archives and Records Association of NZ [ARANZ ].
ARANZ is an incorporated society, established with the aim of promoting the understanding and importance of records and archives in New Zealand. ARANZ is administered nationally by a Council of elected members, and branches are established in Auckland, Otago/Southland, Central Districts, Waikato/Bay of Plenty, Canterbury and Wellington. Our membership (currently 397 members ) includes: archivists; recordkeepers; librarians; and other information managers; genealogists; historians; teachers; museum and art gallery curators; historical societies; and many others interested in the preservation and use of archives and records.
ARANZ Council and members were canvassed for comments, views and opinions on the Strategy and all whole heartedly support the vision and direction of the Digital Strategy. Some concerns, however, have been raised around the ability to realise the vision through the identified action points, and appropriate participation. In keeping with the required feedback format, concerns and comments have been addressed as appropriate below.
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1. Vision and Framework
1.1 Do you agree with the vision?
Yes. However, the vision statement appears quite focussed on ICT, while many of the action points are reliant on actual content and skilled implementation. Enhancing information content to be digitised and ensuring the right people are developing the required skills, should support the ICT vision. Additionally while the realisation of economic, social and cultural goals have been articulated in the vision it is important to clarify that these goals must be sustainable and of long-term value.
1.2 Are the focus areas raised in this Strategy appropriate to achieve this vision? Do you have alternatives?
Provided the focus areas encompass a multi-disciplinary approach the Strategy can be a success. Some fundamental shifts in the way in which we regard information will need to be made. The trend towards "commodifying" information over the past fifteen years has created an a tiered information class of information rich and information poor. The draft Strategy does not seem to envisage any significant reversal of this situation, but rather will target groups such as those with low economic status and disabilities. The problem with this approach is that in real life there are too many "exceptions to the rule"- people who will not benefit from this.[1]
The notion of increasing information literacy will not be remedied by a content and technology driven strategy. Critical to raising the level of information literacy is a recognition of the importance of context. The contextualising of information should be a focus area.
Having IT skills in not, in itself, enough. There should be a focus on how information is structured, managed and accessed which increases information literacy.
There is also a real need to focus on raising the skills base of information professionals (most notably public librarians and records managers), particularly outside the larger cities. Low salaries and poor working environments do not attract top-notch information professionals. Yet the success of many action points and focus areas is dependant on the successful participation of diverse information professionals.[2]
1.3 Does this Strategy address the key opportunities and challenges that New Zealand faces in becoming a world leader at using information and technology?
There are concerns over the cost of telecommunications in New Zealand and how this may be addressed by government, particularly if New Zealand wishes to encourage the use of ICT. Whereas government agencies may be better positioned to latch on to ICT, in the private arena it can be dependent on the organisation’s culture. The Strategy does not appear to address these private sector challenges.
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2. Content
2.4 Are there other specific actions that you think should be considered? By whom and by when?
It is felt that Archives NZ should take on a more active role in the promotion of information management in the public arena eg development of standards and establishment of benchmarks for the availability of accurate and timely information.
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7. The Government
7.2 Are there other key issues in this focus area you would like to see considered?
The Strategy does not seem to fully address how partnerships with local government will be achieved particularly with local authorities in the information poor areas who themselves have no IM capabilities and under-resource their information services (eg libraries). Perhaps fundamental changes can only be effective when the parochial nature of central and local government agencies is recognised and countered.
Triona Doocey
on behalf of Archives and Records Association of New Zealand
6 August 2004
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Endnotes
[1] Comments received via the ARANZ website’s Online Survey on the Draft Digital Strategy
[2] ibid
