Addressing the free-rider problem in collectively built online archives

IF 1.4 Q2 INFORMATION SCIENCE & LIBRARY SCIENCE

ARCHIVAL SCIENCE Pub Date : 2025-04-01 DOI:10.1007/s10502-025-09480-2

Jinfang Niu

引用次数: 0

Abstract

Many online archives, particularly those aggregates collectively built by multiple archival organizations, face financial challenges once their initial grant funding is depleted. This paper examines the financial sustainability of such online archives through the lens of the free-rider problem, a concept from public goods economics. The study introduces relevant economic theories, reviews sustainability literature in the cultural heritage sector, and assesses current revenue generation strategies employed by thirteen sustainable public goods. Drawing from these analyses, this paper proposes actionable strategies for addressing the free-rider problem and sustaining collectively built online archives as public goods.

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来源期刊

ARCHIVAL SCIENCE INFORMATION SCIENCE & LIBRARY SCIENCE-

CiteScore

2.70

自引率

18.20%

发文量

期刊介绍： Archival Science promotes the development of archival science as an autonomous scientific discipline. The journal covers all aspects of archival science theory, methodology, and practice. Moreover, it investigates different cultural approaches to creation, management and provision of access to archives, records, and data. It also seeks to promote the exchange and comparison of concepts, views and attitudes related to recordkeeping issues around the world.Archival Science''s approach is integrated, interdisciplinary, and intercultural. Its scope encompasses the entire field of recorded process-related information, analyzed in terms of form, structure, and context. To meet its objectives, the journal draws from scientific disciplines that deal with the function of records and the way they are created, preserved, and retrieved; the context in which information is generated, managed, and used; and the social and cultural environment of records creation at different times and places.Covers all aspects of archival science theory, methodology, and practiceInvestigates different cultural approaches to creation, management and provision of access to archives, records, and dataPromotes the exchange and comparison of concepts, views, and attitudes related to recordkeeping issues around the worldAddresses the entire field of recorded process-related information, analyzed in terms of form, structure, and context