Identifying Data for Permanent Retention
A small percentage of data and related records may be identified for permanent storage as a part of the historical record of a discipline, institution, or as intellectual property. Records eligible for permanent retention may be those that:
- document a breakthrough
- are generated by a lab or individual who had great impact on the field
- are highly reusable in a particular area of research
Difference Between Archiving and Long-term Storage
Permanent Retention or Archiving
Permanent retention or archiving is the ongoing migration of electronic formats and storage costs, as well as care, maintenance, and access services for the records in perpetuity.
- Often a significant investment for an institution
- This is not the same as ensuring long-term storage or preservation of research data
Long-term Storage and Preservation
Long-term storage and preservation seeks to ensure that research data will be available to those who seek it (e.g. your sponsors, the public, other researchers) in a persistent and accessible format for the specific period of time outlined by your funder and parent institution
- Retention periods also allow for a measured period of time to pass so that a better assessment of the long-term impact of a research project can be evaluated, usually prior to or in conjunction with an archival appraisal process conducted by the Archives and Records Management Program at the Center for the History of Medicine
Appraising Data for Historical Context
In determining whether research data and related records are of historic value, the following questions are considered:
- What are the essential records required to understand this research data and project?
- What was the impact of this research on its discipline?
- What had been the impact of the researcher in his or her field?
- Is the research data replicable?
- Is there an index to the data? How would future researchers understand the research?
- Has this research been published? Where?
- Has the data been kept in a research repository?
- Are there additional records related to the data?
- Are there any security or access issues?
- Does someone else own the data?
- Are there any related records which should accompany the data?
Services for LMA
The Center for the History of Medicine (CHoM) at Countway Library is one of the world's leading centers for the study of the history of health and medicine. CHM collects, maintains, and provides access to records of enduring value for historical and research purposes, including research records and data.
- The Archives and Records Management (ARM) program can assist you with appraising your research for long-term historical value.
- To connect with an archivist, please email ARM or call (617) 432-6194