digitization as a mean of preservation in developing countries with a special focus on puerto rico...
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Digitization as a Mean of Preservation in Developing Countries with a Special
Focus on Puerto Rico
By: Coral C. Salomón
What is digitization?
Capturing something analog (object, image, sound, document, etc…) in digital form
A Comprehensive Preservation Strategy Would Include:Preservation and conservation of physical
materialThe use of microfilm when appropriateDigitization of select collection
However
Developing countries do not have the means or the resources to create a comprehensive preservation strategy.
Digitization ensures that at least the content of the material is not destroyed and lost to posterity.
Why Concentrate on Puerto Rico?
Puerto Rico classified as a “Small Island Developing State” by the UN
Afflicted by many of the same ills as other developing countries Colonial administrations with little or no regard
to local culture Equatorial region prone to natural disasters Decentralized and disorganized archives Cultural institutions poorly funded
Why is it Important to Preserve Puerto Rican Cultural Patrimony? Home to 3.7 million people
This number excludes Puerto Rican’s living abroad and of Puerto Rican descent
Produced many intellectuals and notable individuals who contributed to Latin American and American history Eugenio Maria de Hostos Pedro Albizu Campo Luisa Capetillo Perone Julia de Burgos Ramón Emeterio Betances
Why is it Important to Preserve Puerto Rican Patrimony? (Continued)
Provide material for researchers and academic institutions. Latin American studies Genealogy Earth Sciences Marine biology History
The preservation of Puerto Rican (and other developing countries) archives is not merely a quest to safeguard cultural identity, but world history.
As long as these archives are left to rot due to environmental and economic issues, the global community is at a loss.
Why Digitization: Protect Records from Environmental Constraints In tropical climates it may take records,
even if made of long lasting paper, only ~100 years to become dust.
Before becoming dust, the data may have faded away. Ink fades away Ink “eats” paper, increase carrier’s rate of decay Ink may not tolerate sunlight
Dangers of tropical climate to organic material
Environmental destructive forces classified in three groups: Physical (heat, sunlight, dust, sand) Chemical (moisture, gases, pollutants) Biological (fungi, bacteria, insect, rodents)
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Hurricanes
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Fault Activity and Earthquakes
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Tsunamis
And Byproducts of Natural Disasters
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Archivo General dePuerto RicoRicardo Alegría
Why Digitization: Protect Records from Environmental Constraints (Continued)
Preserve content by offering access through a digital medium.
Digitization is able to separate the informational content from the degradation of the physical medium.
Backups and digital repositories free institutions from: Ongoing cost of building maintenance Need to find adequate building structure Environmental dangers and disasters
While it is preferable to conserve and preserve the original at least by digitizing endangered material the content of cultural patrimony may live on for future generations.
Why Digitization: Job Creation
Create new, technical job opportunities for people in developing countries.
Offers institutions the opportunity to develop its technical infrastructure and staff skill capacity.
Digital equipment and the tech-developed staff could serve multiple purposes in the libraries and archives. Example: Website development, marketing,
photography, etc…
Why Digitization: Job CreationHelp Fight Brain Drain(?)
Exodus of mostly younger Puerto Ricans leaving the island that threatens to further debilitate an already struggling economy.
Government has to stimulate the economy in a sustainable way.
Puerto Rico is well poised to provide high-quality and digital savvy staff. University of Puerto Rico – Mayagüez falls into the top 50 Engineering
Schools awarding undergraduates and master degrees in United States 15 universities in the island that offer technical-related undergraduate
and masters degrees. By contributing to capacity building the government of Puerto
Rico could safeguard the old while supporting 21st employment development.
Why Digitization: Increase Access
Enabling access to a collection is one of the vital principles of sustainable stewardship.
Provide access to delicate material: Protect frail material or originals that have an awkward
format. Facilitate exposure of materials kept under restricted access
due to threat of vandalism, damage or theft. An alternative to allowing more wear and tear on the originals,
especially if the original content has received little, no or poor care.
Why Digitization: Increase Access (Continued)Enhances access to the institution’s
resources: Builds services in support of teaching and
research. Makes possible research that could not otherwise be easily done.
Scan and link images to transcriptions of texts, making it possible to track and see variants online through hyperlinks.
Ex: At Tufts University, researchers are combining 18th century texts, images, and geographic information systems to build an interactive atlas of 18th century London.
Why Digitization: Increase Access (Continued)Virtual collections could lead to worldwide
access.Bring innovative collaborations that could
not have happened otherwise.Improved delivery of information services,
both at home and abroad.
Why Digitization: Increase Access Locally People would benefit by being able to access
previously inaccessible repositories. Material at the National and Municipal Archives
are not classified or organized. System is completely decentralized Digitization project could offer a centralized location for
accessing historical content Improving access and organization
Allow users now, and in the future, better access to material that would never be viewed due to poor organization, a decentralized system and the material’s deteriorating conditions.
Challenges: Volatile Format
How does one deal with a medium that is unstable? Planning is key
Create simple, well-documented, standardized program
Search for a preservation partner, an institution that would be interested in saving the institution’s website or its constituent materials in case of emergency.
Challenges: Funding
How to secure funding for costly project? Digitization is not cheap
Non-damaging scanning equipment, high-quality pictures and file formats
However, when used as a means of last resort, institution does not have to purchase costly microfilming equipment.
Spare time-consuming and expensive physical treatments.
Seek free non-proprietary software to mitigate costs.
Making up expense by marketing digitized collections
Challenges: Funding (Continued)
Attempt to secure funding and partnerships through: UNESCO Memory of the World Programme International Council on Archives International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions Asociación para la Conservación del Patrimonio Cultural de las
Américas (APOYO) Library of Congress
There is no financial justification for skimping on quality. Poor digital copies are a waste of money. Skimping on metadata is also a mistake. Metadata is expensive, but without it people will have trouble finding and using the digitized materials
Conclusion
While digitization, as a sole mean of preservation is not the preferred method, it’s better than nothing.
Ensures that content of records are not lost to posterity.
Lost archives are irreplaceable. The loss is final. Our heritage is all that we know of ourselves;
what we preserve of it is our only record. Preservation is our commitment not only to the past, but also to the future. -Teygeler, René
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