At the end of 2020, we recommend some texts that put the future in perspective.
We highlight the theme of preserving online content presented in the ebook “Tendências 2021” (Trends 2021). The contribution of Daniel Gomes, the Arquivo.pt manager, was entitled “Arquivos online ou do online?” (Online archives or archives of the online?).
I was invited to write about the challenges and threats to online archives. The first question that came to me was what is meant by an “online archive”?
My concern lies in the “archives of the online” because there is not even an established awareness about their need, whether at an academic, governmental or individual level.
It is technologically impossible to preserve all information available online. But it is absurd not to be aware that we have to preserve some of the information online for short, medium and long term access.
The complete text (in Portuguese) is available at pages 23 to 26 of the open-access book “Tendências 2021”.
The challenge is to cultivate awareness about the importance of preserving content online by learning how to do it in practice.
Happy New Year!