A preservação do patrimônio documental arquivístico da Federação Espírita do Rio Grande do Sul

Abstract

This research has been motivated by the need to define strategies for the preservation of the archival heritage of the Spiritist Federation of the State of Rio Grande do Sul, which is a key factor for fulfilling its organizational purposes, both in regard to its internal public as well as its relationship with society. The objective of this work is to analyze the application of preservation strategies aimed at creating a Plan for the Preservation of the Archival Heritage of the Spiritist Federation of the State of Rio Grande do Sul (FERGS). The theoretical framework consisted in addressing references concerning cultural heritage, archival heritage, preservation, digital preservation, chain of custody and preservation, reliable digital record repository, preservation and digital preservation policy, and Digital Preservation Plan (PPD). This research is defined as quali-quantitative, exploratory, descriptive, and explanatory. This research has allowed for identifying document typology and implementing classification/arrangement and document assessment. Moreover, it consisted in identifying and promoting a preservation policy for the FERGS heritage, based on the national scenario, including digital preservation strategies and the establishment of a Digital Preservation Plan, which is the product of this dissertation. The research then identified and proposed a long-term preservation and access infrastructure, aimed at maintaining the authenticity of the digital FERGS records, including a sample of the holdings for analysis. At last, the research studied the archival function of diffusion, taking it as a basis for the creation of a proposal to disseminate the archival heritage and make it accessible to users and researchers. As a result, the research found out that FERGS has an expressively diversified document typology destined for permanent preservation, as well as an arrangement and assessment structure for its archival heritage. The preservation of the archival heritage represents a challenge for the public and private institutions in Brazil, especially when it comes to digital preservation and the use of Digital Preservation Plans in the work routines, so as to make it possible to maintain an authentic chain of custody and preservation. Within FERGS, a Digital Preservation Plan was proposed as a product containing the strategies to be implemented with the purpose of long-term digital preservation. It can be concluded that institutions need to consider more effectively existing preservation and digital preservation policies and how they can be implemented to effectively preserve their archival heritage in the long run.