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Abstract:
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Preservation of digital material has become a major challenge for library and information
professionals these days. Although libraries have been concerned with preserving cultural
and intellectual heritage for centuries, it is only in recent years that preservation and
conservation have become activities in their own right. Preservation of digital material is
more complex because of the dependencies that exist between the information object itself
and its technical environment- an environment that is generally created using rapidly obsolete
and, therefore, fragile technology. This dependence can be at both the software and the
hardware levels. In this sense, digital media present more complex problems than any
other media libraries have ever had to face. The present article explores various strategies
and methodologies for preserving digital materials and also focuses on the pressing need
for libraries to develop strategies and practical action plans to maintain the safety and
accessibility of the world’s historical and cultural heritage. |