The Future of History: Investigating the Preservation of Information in the Digital Age

The Future of History: Investigating the Preservation of Information in the Digital Age

Curation

The following article goes into detail regarding a study that was conducted to “the challenges of preserving information in the digital age, and explores how this may affect the future of historical knowledge.” The study itself is the result of “a series of semi-structured interviews with forty-one historians, archivists, librarians, and web researchers.” That said, it is important to keep in mind that the results as whole argue against historical records having association with the term ‘digital black hole’ in both connotative and denotative meanings. Instead, its focus should center on “the importance of the issue for the future of history, and the complexity of the solutions to be adopted.” Especially in regard to education, planning, as well as the cooperation between historians and the information professions. For instance, many of the issues revolve around things like certain hardware and software being out of date and current law(s) make it very hard for memory institutions to not only capture but preserve digital material. Then there’s the preexisting legal framework which does not reflect the “digital age”. Not to mention, challenges within social and cultural domains. That’s why trying to figure out the answer to questions like “What can be done today to ensure future historians will have access to a rich historical record so they can tell the story of our time to future generations?"

Edinburgh University Press

September, 2012

Hannah Baker

Journal Article

Roland, Lena, and David Bawden. “The Future of History: Investigating the Preservation of Information in the Digital Age” 28, no. 3 (September 2012): 220–36. https://doi.org/10.1179/1758348912Z.00000000017.