Digital initiative in archives : a study on the selection of archives for digitisation in New Zealand

Abstract

The research discussed in this report investigated the decision-making processes that information professionals go through when selecting archives for digitisation. In order to gain this information, six information professionals from six different New Zealand repositories were interviewed. Participants were asked to provide background information about their institution's digitisation programme, put weightings on a variety of predetermined criteria, and discuss what they considered to be the most influential criteria when making selection decisions. Participants were also asked to discuss issues of rights management, preservation and access, and to outline the process they go through when selecting archives for digitisation. The results gained were compared with existing literature and previous research conducted concerning digitisation. The importance of access to archival institutions was reinforced and a variety of criteria important to New Zealand repositories was revealed.