Management of cartographic archives in Namibia

Abstract

The arrival of modern technologies and their peripherals in the electronic world cannot be undermined in the management of cartographic archives. Cartographic materials under Namibia's Ministry of Works and Transport is no exception. This study adopted a qualitative method and employed multimethod research design, which enabled the researcher to use interviews and observation as data collection strategies. Interviews were carried out with four participants and an observation checklist was used. The study revealed that despite the changes in the management of records brought about by application of information and communication technologies, it is yet to be felt completely in the traditional archival settings where access to cartographic archives are limited due to several issues, including  their uniqueness, lack of qualified archivist, inadequate staff capacity, limited space, inadequate budget for the management of archives and lack of computerised systems for the management of digital cartographic archives. The study recommends that more attention should be given to keeping abreast with new innovations through the establishment of a specific file plan for the management of cartographic archives and introduction of an archives system for managing digital archives since development in this field is dynamic.