Digital preservation policy

a study for its implementation in the Public Ministry of Rio de Janeiro

Abstract

The growing production of digital documents has been transforming institutional relationships. However, digital management and preservation have not been occurring to the same extent in Brazilian public institutions. Notably, digital archival documents must be managed in a way that guarantees the maintenance of their characteristics, ensuring their preservation and access for as long as necessary. Given this, it is urgent to envision digital preservation policies (PPD) for archival documents. Especially within the scope of public institutions, as they have a constitutional duty to promote and protect Brazilian documentary heritage. Thus, this article aims to present one of the products of the Course Completion Work (TCC) prepared and co-supervised by these authors in the professional master's degree in Document and Archive Management at the Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO) - Draft Policy on Digital Preservation of the Public Ministry of the State of Rio de Janeiro (MPRJ). An organ of the Brazilian justice system, with Essential Functions for Justice, the Rio de Janeiro MP is the institution responsible for defending the legal order, the democratic regime and unavailable individual and social interests. Although it dates back to 1891, it was through the Federal Constitution of 1988 that it acquired a permanent character and gained its administrative and functional autonomy and independence, confirming its supervisory profile and essential for democracy. That said, the specific objectives of this work are: Conceptually present Digital Preservation Policy; describe the current situation of digital preservation in MPRJ; and detail the steps for preparing the MPRJ Digital Preservation Policy proposal. To achieve them, the research is characterized as descriptive, applied in nature and with a qualitative approach. It concludes by confirming the need to direct the Rio de Janeiro MP to the implementation of digital preservation based on a PPD. Therefore, recommendations arise for the development of this strategic instrument, considering the particularities of the institution.