British Colonial Administrations’ registry systems: a comparative study of Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland

Lovering, Timothy

doi:10.1007/s10502-010-9112-3

Cited by 7 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…… This comparative study … reveals … an absence of centralised advice, and a consequent dependence upon individual innovation. 2 Our study confirms the importance of innovation in Britain's overseas territories. Before moving on to address our main themes, however, it is necessary to say something about metropolitan practices and controls and to provide some historical background to colonial administration, so that what follows may be intelligible to the general reader.…”

Section: Recordkeeping In the Imperial Peripherysupporting

confidence: 79%

The development of recordkeeping systems in the British Empire and Commonwealth, 1870s–1960s

Tough¹,

Lihoma²

2012

Archives and Manuscripts

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This essay demonstrates that initiatives in the imperial periphery, not least in Western Australia, played a significant role in the development of recordkeeping systems in the British Empire and Commonwealth. Local circumstances, including the adequacy of local revenues and the availability of skilled staff, played their part in shaping the systems. Nonetheless, there are overarching patterns. The need to maintain security provided a potent driver for the creation of confidential registries. The need to carry out basic functions influenced the design of recordkeeping systems far more than any shared 'imperial imaginary'. The diverging work patterns of colonial capitals and of district administrations tended to produce distinct recordkeeping systems. The development of integrated registry systems may have played a part in the development of the Secretariat as an institution of colonial government.

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Section: Recordkeeping In the Imperial Peripherysupporting

confidence: 79%

The development of recordkeeping systems in the British Empire and Commonwealth, 1870s–1960s

Tough¹,

Lihoma²

2012

Archives and Manuscripts

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“…This under-resourcing of archival work resulted in inadequate and unintegrated planning; a low skills base among personnel, inadequate records management in government ministries and departments and absence of clear career paths for staff (Kemoni and Ngulube, 2007, p. 123). The findings of research by scholars such as Kemoni and Ngulube (2007); Mnjama (2005) Keakopa (2007), Tough (2009) and Lovering (2010) point unambiguously to archival systems that are under severe strain in the ESARBICA region. The advent of electronic records in the region has also presented further challenges to the management and preservation of records.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

An assessment of the state of national archival and records systems in the ESARBICA region

Ngoepe¹,

Keakopa

2011

Records Management Journal

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Purpose -The purpose of this paper is to assess and compare the current state of archival and records systems in two of ESARBICA member countries, namely South Africa and Botswana. Design/methodology/approach -The paper uses a qualitative research approach. To draw inferences and make recommendations, a survey was conducted in national and provincial archival institutions of both countries. Secondary data were derived from literature search and primary data from questionnaires. Findings -While archives and records services in both countries do have legislation, they are not being recognised and given status in the government and public arena. Archivists and records managers in either country are still marginalised by state administration. There is no political champion of archives and records management in either country. There is a shortage of funds and staff, accompanied by poor infrastructure and lack of vision by the leaders of archival institutions in both countries. In South Africa, the national archives have inherited a role from the previous dispensation and it still remains a subordinate functionary within the Department of Arts and Culture, rather than being relatively independent. In Botswana, the national archival system is centralised and is also a subordinate functionary within the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture. Practical implications -The findings and recommendations will help in guiding national and provincial archival institutions in both countries to facilitate the effective management of records to determine those of archival value, to preserve them for posterity and to make them accessible to the public. Originality/value -This is the first comparative study on archival and reocrds management systems between Botswana and South Africa.

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“…As such, records are critical components of the process of accountability in the country. Tough (2009) and Lovering (2010) observed that the rise of electronic records within Southern region of Africa has ushered in varied challenges on how best to manage and preserve the records. Akotia (2003) share that implementing sound national system of archiving and managing records can play a serious role in alleviation of the limitations that come with national archives.…”

Section: Background To the Studymentioning

confidence: 99%

Archives Management and Service Delivery: The Case of Kenya National Archives and Documentation Services

Isoka¹,

Namande²

2022

IJCAB

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Service delivery within the context of public service is key in sustaining the general wellbeing of the nation while contributing towards general development. Therefore, sound management of records contributes towards effectiveness and efficiency in delivery of public services. This also improves the quantity of information available for enhancing the level of accountability. Hence, this study was an assessment of archives management and service delivery with reference to Kenya National Archives and documentation services. The study specifically focused on; examining the effect of Professional archival management establishing the barriers, and assessing the effect of process control, on service delivery at the Kenya national archives and documentation services. The significance of the study would benefit the government for planning purposes to meet her vision 2030 goals in Service quality delivery. The design to be adopted by this inquiry was the case study which took quantitative approach. The sample of the inquiry covered five record management staff, 12 staff in top management levels, 28 action officers, 36 staff at clerical level and 19 staff from registry department. The key tool for gathering the views of the participants were the questionnaire alongside the interview guides. Prior to gathering of the information, the questionnaire was tested to ensure it was valid and reliable enough. The process of the information gathered was done with aid of content analysis for the open ended responses. For the responses in their quantitative form, frequencies, correlation and regression analysis was embraced. The study found that archival service professionals, archival service process control, user perception and barriers had a positive significant influence on service delivery with reference Kenya national archives and documentation services. The study concluded that the archival service professionals provide important benefits and services, such as organizing and maintaining the documentary record of institutions, groups, and individuals. Archival service process control provides user a greater control over their electronic records, easy to locate documents via keywords or a barcode, the documents are held on secure premises and only authorized personnel have access to them. Users had a negative attitude towards the adoption of digital records management and the extent to which they were willing to adopt digital records management was low and the barriers included poor pay for Kenyan civil servants has resulted in poor performance in terms of service delivery. The study recommended that the organization should provide support from the management staff by enabling them to understand both tangible and non-tangible benefits of records. There should be a creation and execution of records management programs, the revision of archival legislation, the integration of archival institutions under significant and influential government ministries, the development of archives and records management capacity, and the improvement of information access. In order to increase user perception, the organization should provide improvements on its current records management so as to enable management to obtain records that can help them make proper short term and long term plans to facilitate effective and efficient service delivery. The government should introduce E-Government library services, which can have a significant impact on how services are delivered to library patrons.

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British Colonial Administrations’ registry systems: a comparative study of Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland

Cited by 7 publications

References 13 publications

The development of recordkeeping systems in the British Empire and Commonwealth, 1870s–1960s

The development of recordkeeping systems in the British Empire and Commonwealth, 1870s–1960s

An assessment of the state of national archival and records systems in the ESARBICA region

Archives Management and Service Delivery: The Case of Kenya National Archives and Documentation Services

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