Press release from NFSA
More than $800,000 has been allocated in the federal Budget to the National Library of Australia, the National Film and Sound Archive and the National Archives of Australia to help collect and preserve huge volumes of digital information.
This will also assist in progressing towards the digitisation of our important cultural and historical collections. The $805,000 will help three of the nation’s leading collecting institutions plan how they can look at digitising their vast collections and ensure that they will be available for use and enjoyment by many generations to come.
The Budget allocation will look at preserving at-risk audio and video collections by converting them into a digital form.
Under the “Dealing with the Digital Deluge” project, IT infrastructure will be developed so the agencies can manage their large digital collections and extend the life of the material.
The Director-General of the National Library, Jan Fullerton, joined with her counterparts Mr Ross Gibbs at the NAA and Dr Darryl McIntyre at the NFSA today in welcoming the Budget announcement.
“I am delighted that the National Library will be joining the National Film and Sound Archive and the National Archives in this exciting project,” Ms Fullerton said.
“If Australia’s national cultural institutions don’t collect and preserve the work and inspiration of our researchers and creators in digital form today, it will not be there for the public to access tomorrow.”
Chief Executive Officer of the NFSA, Dr Darryl McIntyre said: "We are excited to be working with our friends at the NLA and NAA to resolve the digital challenges of sharing our collections with the wider community. This is a fantastic opportunity for the NFSA to mass digitise analogue audiovisual material and to significantly increase acquisition of new media works.”
Director-General of the National Archives of Australia, Mr Ross Gibbs said: “This Budget allocation is most welcome. It will provide an opportunity for the nation’s foremost collecting institutions to work together to energetically pursue solutions for managing, preserving and providing digital access to information.”