Ways of seeing: contextualising the continuum

摘要

Purpose - In this commemorative issue of Records Management Journal, milestones from the last 20rnyears of recordkeeping practice are being celebrated. This paper aims to provide a retrospective of thernrecords continuum and examine its evolution, its impact and its influence, and to reference some of therncontroversy it has inspired.rnDesign/methodology/approach - The paper is based on a review of literature and a historicalrnassessment, which are intended to contextualise and explain the continuum.rnFindings - The continuum has a long history in Australian recordkeeping culture, but significantrninternational research and theory have also fed into its development. The continuum has an enduringrnrelevance and remains a fundamental tool for assessing and realigning recordkeeping practice today.rnResearch limitations/implications - The paper is strongly supportive of the continuumrnapproach, and as such is not an impartial assessment of the model and of the criticism that hasrnbeen levelled against it.rnPractical implications - It is hoped that the paper helps to foster further understanding and use ofrnthe records continuum model.rnOriginality/value - While owing a great deal to Sue McKemmish and Frank Upward, the paperrnaims to present a fresh perspective on continuum theory, in a way that helps to explain and encouragernthe adoption of continuum-based approaches to recordkeeping.