Abstract:
Established under the Archival Act 16/2011, the
National Archives of Maldives (NAM) is
responsible for preserving national official records
and formulating archiving policies. The objectives
were to understand the operational protocols, legal
and policy foundations, and the organizational
chart in influencing the performance and reliability of the institution.
The study comprised a study tour of the National Archives record
room and discussions with the key officials of the Records
Management Section, including the Director. Through detailed
examination, we have elucidated the strengths and weaknesses of the
current archival system, identified potential areas for improvement,
and illuminated such institutions' role in preserving and
disseminating a nation's cultural and historical heritage. The Act
details NAM's responsibilities for acquiring, appraising, and
preserving historically significant records, managing records
transfers, and facilitating public access. It requires official documents
to be retained for 25 years within institutions before being transferred
to NAM, with records predating 1980 preserved permanently. A
policy of disposal is also in place for inactive records. The Act
establishes the NAM's organizational structure, overseen by a
Director General and an advisory board. Despite the NAM's mandate,
it currently faces challenges such as space limitations, lack of standard
transfer procedures, and lack of professional archivists, which prevent
it from acquiring new records. Recommendations include establishing
operational procedures for records acquisition, obtaining a larger
archival building in or outside Male’, professional archivist training,
and better utilizing the existing preservation chamber.
