Abstract

Archival information services supporting rights protection have garnered less academic attention than services for educational and academic support services. The study proposes a comprehensive framework encompassing institutional, practical, and theoretical elements essential for establishing a rights-based paradigm in archival information services. First, the study examines the theoretical foundations of records as instruments for the exercise or protection of rights. Through the analysis of rights conceptualization and records agency, the study demonstrates that records function as active agents in user relationships. Second, its historical investigation traces the evolution of rights documentation, examining their function in ancient and medieval Western societies, and analyzes the emergence of ‘feudists’ in 18th-century France as precursors to modern archival professionals. Third, it further examines the transformation of archival services from protecting the rights of the ruling class to providing universal access for citizens in the modern era. Based on this historical and theoretical analysis, the study proposes a contemporary framework for rights-based archival information services in democratic societies. This framework encompasses three key dimensions: i) institutionalization of legal access to ensure universal service provision, ii) implementation of intellectual and physical access through service practices, and iii) development of mechanisms for reconciling competing rights claims.