Abstract

Beyond being mere administrative products for their functional running, records produced by nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and arranged voluntarily by citizens are memories of civil society. Online information services are expanding in the archives sector, but it is not easy to provide services with a limited budget from activist NGOs. Besides, there has never been a case study of information services for NGOs, resulting in a lack of basic data. Therefore, this study surveyed the status of online information services of 5,725 NGOs that have a UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) consultative status. Furthermore, it conducted an in-depth analysis of 10 selected NGOs to contribute to preserving civil society activities and promoting the use of their records. The results of this study are summarized as follows. First, 75 out of 5,725 NGOs had physical and digital archives. Second, domestic NGOs must supplement their policy of accessing and using physical records and operate 1:1 inquiries and Q&A services to provide active record information services. Overseas NGOs must consider expanding online full-text and outreach services using records. Third and last, NGOs that have difficulty providing records information services should consider the services from an integrated standpoint according to the field of activities and transfer.