International Research on Permanent Authentic Records in Electronic Systems
n. (abbr. InterPARES)a series of multinational projects investigating issues about the authenticity, reliability, and accuracy of electronic records throughout their life cycleGilliland-Swetland 2002, 198The paper reviews how InterPARES 1 built upon extant archival and diplomatic practices and experimented with additional approaches drawn from the social sciences in order to identify, test, and formalize such mechanisms through the conduct of case studies of electronic information and record-keeping systems.Bearman 2006, 18In Canada, Luciana Duranti’s project on Preservation of the Integrity of Electronic Records at the University of British Columbia reached the conclusion of it theory-building first phase in 1996, and began its evolution into InterPARES, a massive international undertaking involving players from throughout the world.Gilliland 2014a, 186Little research has examined whether the constructs of reliability and authenticity promulgated by the kinds of archival requirements discussed above map onto the understandings of records creators and users, although case studies undertaken during the second phase of InterPARES (InterPARES 2) examined conceptualizations of the constructs in scientific and artistic domains. InterPARES 3, which has focused on implementing the requirements and models developed in the previous InterPARES projects in real-life settings, may provide additional insight into these understandings.Duranti and Rogers 2018, 1This book presents the main findings of InterPARES Trust, the fourth phase of the InterPARES project, continuously funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) since its inception in 1998. The InterPARES project is a collaboration among academics and professionals concerned about the continuing authenticity of electronic records over the long term. Hence the name Inter (among) PARES (peers), which is also an acronym for International Research on Permanent Authentic Records in Electronic Systems (InterPARES). The project name was carried on through its four phases to provide a continuing identity for the research—an overarching ongoing idea conveying its spirit and ultimate goal: the preservation of the evidentiary nature of records in different technological environments.InterPARES 2020bThe International Research on Permanent Authentic Records in Electronic Systems (InterPARES) aims at developing the knowledge essential to the long-term preservation of authentic records created and/or maintained in digital form and providing the basis for standards, policies, strategies and plans of action capable of ensuring the longevity of such material and the ability of its users to trust its authenticity. The findings and products of the first three phases of the project can be found on this website.
Notes
Phases of the project included InterPARES 1 (1999–2001), InterPARES 2 (2002–2007), InterPARES 3 (2007–2012), and InterPARES Trust (2013–2019). Luciana Duranti of the University of British Columbia provided significant leadership throughout all the phases.
