28th June 2007, 07:17 PM
I deal with this issue all the time at the moment.
Unfortunately, I don't have the time to explain all the problems, but the main ones are that (even high quality) CD's and DVD's aren't proven to be archivally stable (if you find any that are guaranteed to be readable after 20 years I'd be surprised - and if so, please let me know).
Even photos taken from negatives aren't very archivally stable - which is why you should always archive negatives or slides as well, so that new paper copies can be made. Photos printed on your average office printer (even using high quality paper and ink), are unlikely to survive in the long term.
Digital formats regularly change. I have work I did five years ago that I can no longer open using a normal computer.
The only way (at the moment) to really archive digital data is to have it 'actively' managed. This involves having the data stored on servers, regularly backed up, regularly checked for corruption, file formats updated etc etc. Most archives are not set up to accept digital data yet, plus, as it takes active management (not just store in appropriate temp, humidity etc conditions), it has an ongoing cost. Obviously any curator would expect reassurance that this cost is going to be covered for the foreseeable future.
Apparently it is possible to 'burn' digital data onto slides/negatives, however, this is extremely expensive.
The ADS does have some information about digital archives on-line, I believe.
I actually think that it's sad how a lot of family snaps etc are unlikely to be around for our descendents. I love looking at old snaps, but I suspect in 100 years time all we will have are some degraded cds/dvds, containing digital files which your average person isn't going to be able to read on their computer or whatever snazzy piece of kit we have then. At least printed out photos anyone can just pick up and take a look at.
Just my two-pence worth!
Unfortunately, I don't have the time to explain all the problems, but the main ones are that (even high quality) CD's and DVD's aren't proven to be archivally stable (if you find any that are guaranteed to be readable after 20 years I'd be surprised - and if so, please let me know).
Even photos taken from negatives aren't very archivally stable - which is why you should always archive negatives or slides as well, so that new paper copies can be made. Photos printed on your average office printer (even using high quality paper and ink), are unlikely to survive in the long term.
Digital formats regularly change. I have work I did five years ago that I can no longer open using a normal computer.
The only way (at the moment) to really archive digital data is to have it 'actively' managed. This involves having the data stored on servers, regularly backed up, regularly checked for corruption, file formats updated etc etc. Most archives are not set up to accept digital data yet, plus, as it takes active management (not just store in appropriate temp, humidity etc conditions), it has an ongoing cost. Obviously any curator would expect reassurance that this cost is going to be covered for the foreseeable future.
Apparently it is possible to 'burn' digital data onto slides/negatives, however, this is extremely expensive.
The ADS does have some information about digital archives on-line, I believe.
I actually think that it's sad how a lot of family snaps etc are unlikely to be around for our descendents. I love looking at old snaps, but I suspect in 100 years time all we will have are some degraded cds/dvds, containing digital files which your average person isn't going to be able to read on their computer or whatever snazzy piece of kit we have then. At least printed out photos anyone can just pick up and take a look at.
Just my two-pence worth!