As I saw others mention on their blog, I too was surprised that it is easier to preserve paper than it is to preserve technology.
Until recently I hadn't given much thought about how to maintain digital archives. It was brought to my attention in reading through This Book is Overdue. They discussed how as technology changes and we lose the original programs, it becomes difficult to retrieve files. I have found that in my own life, as we tried to transfer files from floppy disks to the hard drive. And if the original program has become to outdated, it is difficult to access.
Emory is lucky because they have Salman Rushdie's original computer where the work was created, which the book mentioned makes a big difference in retrieving the files. It was interesting to here him describe how much editing he did on the computer as opposed to on paper. I wonder if we are losing something in that aspect because we do not have his scribblings and cross-outs to reflect what he chose to keep and to eliminate.
Making Rushdie's digital archives available so that visitors can write or make comments on his copies sounds like such a fun idea. As the article described, anyone who is a devoted fan would love this opportunity to be a part of his work, like touching Dorothy's ruby slippers or visiting Jane Austen's home.
I think digital archives present a lot of issues for future archivists. I think it is a mistake for the workers at Harvard to not go ahead and try to work with the floppy disks they have instead of just leaving them in archival storage. I see their dilemma, because it is a dilemma that many libraries are currently facing - what should we do with our digital archives?
What most libraries are looking for now is the tools to maintain these digital archives and someone who has the knowledge and expertise to deal with them. This is an issue we should be aware of as librarians because it is something we may have to deal with in our careers.
No comments:
Post a Comment