Project Description:
The focus of the project is the development of an online database, available over the Internet, of the main archival and information legislation in all European countries. Relevant directives and regulations of the European Commission will also be included. The database will comprise basic geopolitical information for each country (population, languages, government and administration), a brief overview of the archival system, the texts of the legislation in the official language, and a bibliography. It is intended to add translations of the texts in English and French in due course. Searchers will have the possibility of using a set of index terms, in English or French, and/or free text searches in order to retrieve material that is of interest of them.

Scope:
The pilot project covered eight European countries. The full project will cover all countries in the European Union and also those that can be considered a part of geographical Europe. In the longer term, it is envisaged that countries outside Europe might want to add details to the database and build up an international resource for archival legislation throughout the world.

Objectives:
1) To enable archivists and other information professionals to find details about legislation that is relevant to their daily work as quickly as possible
2) To enable archivists and other information professionals to make comparisons between different national legislation and to find out the most up-to-date legislation relating to different aspects of archival management (for example, access to information and data protection
3) To enable researchers of all kinds to establish the main provisions of archival legislation in a given country

Target Audience:
Given its current scope, the project is intended to serve all archive and information professionals in Europe.

Main Contact Person:
Christine Martinez (Direction des Archives de France)

Other Participants:
Finland, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Slovenia, Turkey

Funding Sources
1. 5,000 euros from ICA’s Programme Commission
2. 70,000 euros for the development of the database and technical training from the European Commission

Partnership

Project Plan
The tender specification for the development of the database (July 2007) is attached

Current Status
After the successful completion of a pilot project , the full project will start in the final quarter of 2007

Estimated Completion Date
31 December 2008

Associated Documents/ Links