U.S. Libraries Working to Support Digital Preservation

CHICAGO, ILL. -- – How often have you lost photos, videos, or emails because you lost your cellphone, your computer crashed, or your storage provider changed their terms of service? During Preservation Week®, April 24 –30, libraries of all types will provide information and expertise regarding how to preserve digital materials, as well as textiles, heirlooms and other collectibles. Libraries are not just about what they offer patrons, but rather what they do for and with people. Themed “Pass it on,” Preservation Week® will feature special programs and services that will help connect library users with preservation tools; promote the importance of preservation; and strive to enhance knowledge of preservation issues among the general public. This year’s efforts will focus on digital preservation.

Giving You An Unfair Advantage

Digital preservation is vital to safeguarding decades of historic and personal history. According to Google vice-president Vint Cerf, the world faces the risk of a “Digital Dark Age” as digital images and documents are no longer accessible because hardware and software have become obsolete.

It’s not only the loss of hardware and software that places digital items at risk, but also digital preservation ignorance. Many don’t understand that digital files also can be lost by poor labeling, saved to an imperfect storage device, or by natural disaster. Every year thousands lose precious memories and personal history because of the loss of a smartphone.

“Digital preservation encompasses all the things we need to consider to make sure that the digital materials we care about remain accessible and usable,” said Norm Medeiros, president, Association for Library Collections & Technical Services, a division of the American Library Association. “During Preservation Week® librarians and library workers will share their knowledge of how to protect and store digital files as well as demonstrate what we can do, individually and together, to preserve our personal and shared histories.”

During the week library staff and Preservation Week Honorary Chair Brad Meltzer will work to inform the masses about the need to protect and preserve digital items. Current technologies are fragile and are constantly improving, so what is currently in use will not be available forever. Various services that we trust with our digital files and posts could change their terms of service or even go out of business. Plus, files have their own frailties. For example, they can become corrupt, especially when being moved or copied.

Participating libraries will offer special programs and services that will help connect library users with preservation tools. For local event information please visit http://www.ala.org/alcts/preservationweek/eventmap.

For more information on Preservation Week® and downloadable artwork, events information, videos and additional resources, please visit the Preservation Week® website www.ala.org/preservationweek.

The Association for Library Collections & Technical Services (ALCTS) is the national association for information providers who work in collections and technical services, such as acquisitions, cataloging, collection development, preservation and continuing resources in digital and print formats. ALCTS is a division of the American Library Association.

Preservation Week® is a registered trademark of the ALA.

Global TechWire is edited by David Menzies 919-274-6862 innovativeprnc@gmail.com.