Archivos históricos universitarios en Bogotá: accesibilidad y buenas prácticas

Abstract

This research addresses accessibility in university historical archives in Bogotá, understood as the capacity to ensure that information, services, and spaces can be used by all people without physical, technological, or cognitive barriers. Accessibility is presented as an essential component for expanding access to documentary heritage and strengthening the social role of higher education institutions. The general objective is to analyze accessible university historical archives in Bogotá and the best practices they implement, in order to identify progress, challenges, and opportunities for improvement. The study is grounded in the guidelines of the International Council on Archives (ICA), particularly its "Accessible Archives" initiative, which guides the incorporation of inclusion criteria and the elimination of barriers in archives. The research adopts a qualitative, descriptive-evaluative approach, employing participant observation and documentary research as methods. Data collection and analysis utilized techniques such as documentary content analysis and semi-structured interviews. The instruments applied included a categorical matrix, questionnaires, and interviews directed at those responsible for the selected archives. The results show that some university historical archives have made progress in practices such as the use of technological resources and user service strategies. However, limitations in infrastructure, resource availability, and institutional strengthening persist, resulting in unequal levels of accessibility in some cases.