Archiving of Electronic Raw Data

Some of the problems associated with the storage and retrieval of electronic data have already been addressed at various places throughout this book. In this section, therefore, only a summary of pertinent points will be given. 

Retrieval, on the other hand, is something that is easier in the case of electronically stored data, because this can - and should - be done in the form of a copy, produced from the stored information, which may be again in electronic form or as a hard-copy on paper. The advantage of this is that, since the original raw data remain unaltered in the electronic system, the retrieved copy does not need to be returned to the archive, and this, in turn, facilitates the work of the archivist, who would then only have to record who had asked for some archived data, but without the need to watch for the timely return of the material in unchanged condition. 

In consequence, this area necessitates that the requirements for IT applications in general, and especially for computer validation, operation and safety have to be very carefuUy considered and applied to the largest extent possible. 

---