The Dorset History Centre has been announced as a National Archives finalist in a digital preservation award.
It’s one of four shortlisted for Safeguarding the Digital Legacy.
Much of Dorset’s history is recorded on paper and photographs which are at risk of deterioration, but information held in old technologies – such as floppy disk and CDs – are also vulnerable to loss, corruption or obsolescence. Digital archiving preserves that information, keeping the stories of our past accessible.
Collections at the Dorset History Centre date back to the year 965 and fill eight miles of shelves. Records can be viewed in their searchroom.
Councillor Andrew Parry, Cabinet member for economic growth, education, learning and skills said:
“To be shortlisted for this prestigious award is a significant recognition of the excellent work Dorset History Centre have been leading on in this field.
“The value that the service brings to Dorset’s economy, skills and education is invaluable in enhancing opportunities and wellbeing for our residents and businesses.”
Award sponsor John Sheridan of The National Archives (UK) added: “This award embodies the very essence of digital preservation. All the finalists have challenged threats to our digital estate and are saving important digital collections which might otherwise have been lost.”
You can learn more about Dorset History’s conservation and preservation processes here: bit.ly/2xhMH5p
DHC is part of the Local Authority Digital Preservation Consortium including West Sussex Records Office and Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre.
The awards ceremony will be held at an international conference in Amsterdam on World Digital Preservation Day (29 November 2018).