A moral reflection on the digitization of Africa’s documentary heritage

Britz, J. Lor, Peter

IFLA Council and General Conference / .
(ReLIS:jul:juljin:6669)

Abstract:

Although digitization offers some solutions to problems of preservation and access, access to digitized collections and their preservation, especially in the longer term, may be problematic. The problems are not only technological, but also economic, political, legal and moral. In the developed world national libraries and other research libraries are engaged in major projects to digitize significant heritage collections reflecting the history and culture of their respective countries. On a smaller scale African documentary heritage materials are also being digitised. This paper raises moral concerns relating to projects aiming to digitize African heritage materials before addressing the question of how these concerns can be addressed and which locally and globally acceptable moral framework can be used to adequately guide the process of digitization and protection of Africa’s documented heritage. It is argued that information based human rights (which are based on and derived from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights) can provide such a moral framework.

Creation: 2003
Keywords: Bibliotecas digitales ; Tecnologías de la información ; Bibliotecas ; Africa ; Países en desarrollo ; Digitalización ; Patrimonio bibliográfico

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