Digital records surge leaves Jersey Archive facing growing cataloguing backlog

Jersey Archive received more than 260,000 digital files during 2025, a dramatic rise from just 13,000 the previous year, according to Jersey Heritage.

The organisation said the increase represents a shift towards digital record-keeping across government, alongside the transfer of around 1,700 boxes of physical archives.

While describing the record transfers as a major success, Jersey Heritage warned that existing staffing levels are struggling to keep pace with the growing volume of material. The charity said this has resulted in an expanding backlog in cataloguing, making it more difficult to create fully searchable collections.

Deputy Chief Executive Linda Romeril said preserving records- both physical and digital- is a time-intensive process.

"The significant increase in the transfer of physical and digital records is placing considerable pressure on our ability to fully catalogue these collections," she said. "Our staff are responsible for processing thousands of boxes of records and digital files each year.

"We ensure all records are securely stored and provide basic online descriptions to help users access collections as quickly as possible. However, with current staffing levels, cataloguing backlogs continue to grow."

Despite the challenges, public interest in the archive remains strong. During 2025, more than 450,000 people accessed Jersey Archive's online catalogue, while the service responded to 3,450 written enquiries and welcomed more than 2,500 visitors in person.

Volunteers also played a significant role, with more than 40 people contributing over 3,370 hours to preservation, indexing and digitisation projects.

Looking ahead, Clive Jones, a member of the Records Advisory Panel, said changes to the Public Records (Jersey) Law would bring additional responsibilities for the archive in 2026.

The amended legislation strengthens Jersey Archive's role in managing, preserving and transferring public records, helping to support government accountability while safeguarding the island's documentary heritage for future generations.