The trajectory of the INTERPARES Project: reflections on theories and methodologies developed during the Project

Abstract

The purpose of this article was to analyze the theoretical and methodological foundations developed during the International Research on Permanent Authentic Records in Eletronic Systems (INTERPARES started in 1999. As the Project is pointed out in the archival literature as a significant contribution to research on the preservation of digital records, the mapping of its transformations in theoretical approaches and influences remains an underexplored object of study. In this sense, it is worth considering the following starting question: “What are the main theoretical and methodological contributions of the InterPARES Project throughout its trajectory?” through a qualitative research in order to synthesize the trajectory of the project as well as reflect on its theoretical and methodological foundations. Therefore, our investigation was carried out through bibliographic research, the scientific production of interPARES and Brazilian or foreign works that studied the Project. The results suggest that as technological changes occur and, consequently, in the applicability of technologies in recordkeeping and, as the Project accompanies such innovations with its research, the need arises to reflect on emerging technologies commonly applied in decentralized technologies.