Besides Standards and Automation: an Experience with Census Databases

Abstract

This paper came out of a practical experience, that did not offer the proper prerequisites indicated usually by standards. Censored databases of censuses, with partial documentation, was transferred to the National Archives and remained stored with no attempt to immediately process or make them accessible to the users. When examined, many issues and questions arose, both technically and conceptually. We share our experience and our reluctances, being aware of the fact that more advanced colleagues (using SIARDS or ADDML, for instance) may regard all as these primitive solutions. But, in the same time, we are convinced we are not the only ones lacking proper skills and expertise and our examples may be an example for other colleagues.