Abstract

This study examines how Records in Contexts (RiC) has been applied and adjusted in an actual archival environment, focusing on the case of the Archives nationales de France (ANF). Using a qualitative case study approach, the study analyzes a series of RiC-related initiatives developed at the ANF, including early pilot projects in which the RiC concept was applied to real archival description data. Based on a comparative analysis of publicly available official documentation, the study examines the problem settings addressed by each initiative and the characteristics of the work undertaken. The findings show that the application of RiC unfolded progressively through three analytically distinct phases: experimental implementation, data structure alignment, and the exploration of service transformation. Thus, this study conceptualizes RiC adoption not as a technical choice or a one-time project but as a gradual process shaped within the archival environment.