The Conceptualization of Electronic Archives in the Context of Digitalization of Ukrainian society

The purpose of this article is to clarify the subject matter of electronic archival studies as an innovative concept of archival science and practice, which has become a priority in the digital society, as well as plays a key role in researching the digitalization of archival affairs, scientifi c substantiation of electronic documents creation, establishing the electronic document management, e-governance, digitalization of archival resources, along with the foundation and activity of electronic archives. The research methodology includes consistent adherence to the principles of interdisciplinarity and integrative scientifi c knowledge, historicism, continuity, comprehensiveness, as well as civilizational, synergistic, and systemic approaches with applying methods of analysis and synthesis, comparative studies, modeling, generalization of experience, expert assessments, social observations, and forecasts. Scientifi c novelty. The authors' interpretation of the subject fi eld and functions of electronic archival science is highlighted from the scientifi c and research practice point of view; electronic archival science is outlined as a relatively separate fi eld of knowledge and academic discipline with the specifi cs of didactic tasks. A signifi cant place is given to the analysis of historical, scientifi c, and theoretical bases of electronic archival science, its subject and objects, source base, methods, and means of learning. Authors traced the specifi c characteristics of scientifi c knowledge application and its basic principles in the electronic fi eld of archival studies, its history and current state of affairs, and revealed the research potential of electronic archival science, its scientifi c tools, and category apparatus. The research pays special attention to various concepts, such as digitalization of archives and document management, electronic document, electronic archives, electronic resource, electronic information, electronic management in archival studies, electronic communication. Conclusions and prospects for further research. The research outlines the national and foreign experience of electronic archival science conceptualization, its signifi cance in the context of informatization and integration processes within the EU. Authors formulated several proposals for further development of theoretical, methodological, and didactic principles of electronic archival science as a fi eld of scientifi c knowledge and academic discipline, innovative basis for computerization of archival practices, along with the modernization of educational programs for new generations of archivists and document scholars.