Exploring the Roles of Digitisation and Microfilming in Preserving Australian Newspapers for Permanent Access

摘要

Newspapers have always presented a challenge to those wishing to ensure their ongoing survival. Designed for imperma-nence, newspapers require active management if their content is to endure. For many years, Australian libraries have relied on copying newspapers to microfilm to ensure their long-term survival. But with developments in digitisation and the associated possibilities for providing enhanced access, microfilm is now being challenged as the preeminent preservation medium. Australian libraries are exploring the role digitisation might play in preserving access to newspapers and under what circumstances a digital version might be preferred to a microfilm one. The Australian Newspaper Plan , established in the early nineties, aims to collect, preserve and provide access to all Australian newspapers. This Plan is a collaboration between the national libraries of Australia and New Zealand and the eight Australian state and territory libraries. ANPIan libraries have been keen to explore how digitisation will affect how they will fulfil their obligations under the Plan.