The values of web archives

This article considers how the development, promotion and adoption of a set of core
values for web archives, linked to principles of “good governance”, will help them
to tackle the challenges of sustainability, accountability and inclusiveness that are
central to their long-term societal and cultural worth. It outlines the work that has
already been done to address these questions, as web archiving begins to move out
of its establishment phase, and then discusses seven key principles of good governance
that might be adapted by and embedded within web archives: participation,
consensus, accountability, transparency, effectiveness and efficiency, inclusivity and
legality. The article concludes with a call to action for researchers and archivists to
co-create the core values for web archives that will be required if they are to remain
a vital part of our cultural heritage infrastructure.