Have we Dropped a Stitch? Collecting Born Digital Documentary Heritage in New Zealand Cultural Heritage Institutions

Abstract

This study explored the factors affecting the nature and extent of the collection of born digital materials for long-term retention by collecting repositories in New Zealand cultural heritage institutions, below the national level. This included exploration of selection factors, limiting and enabling factors affecting activities, preservation and acquisition policies for born digital materials, preservation procedures, and perceptions of roles and responsibilities. This two phase, mixed methods study consisted of a broad web survey followed by semi-structured interviews. The collecting repositories studied hold a range of born digital materials, but in small quantities. The collection of born digital heritage seems to be a new activity that requires additional resourcing and skills that are lacking in many of these collecting repositories. Levels of policy development are low and there is generally a lack of procedures for preserving born digital materials. However respondents generally perceived that collecting and preserving born digital materials was part of their role. The study concludes that the traditionally passive approach to acquisition of many of the collecting archives studied, combined with a lack of resourcing and expertise, pose a threat to the long term accessibility of local and regional born digital heritage. Some recommendations for action are provided.