PERSONAL ARCHIVING: STRIKING A BALANCE TO  REACH THE PUBLIC
Never have so many people documented so much about
their lives. Digital technology has empowered
individuals to build large, rich collections of
photographs, videos, e-mail, documents and other
information. But the ability to create digital content is
far outstripping personal capacity to manage and keep it
over time. Looking ahead over the next decade, it is
possible to foresee two consequences for libraries and
archives. The most obvious and certain is that digital
accessions of personal materials will supplement, and
eventually surpass, traditional analog materials. Another
outcome is more subtle and speculative: people seeking
trusted guidance about how best to manage their
important digital items. Memory organizations are
reasonable places for people to go in search of such
guidance, and this presents an opportunity to provide a
valuable—and highly visible—public service. The
Library of Congress National Digital Information
Infrastructure and Preservation Program is undertaking a
project to provide guidance aimed at the general public
in connection with personal digital archiving. The
project focuses on interacting with people through
several different channels, including web-based written
instructions, video productions, and social media. The
Library is also exploring use of public events such as
“Personal Archiving Day” to engage directly with
people. In developing a strategy for this program, the
Library has to balance professional practice with the
need to clearly communicate with non-specialists in a
Web 2.0 environment.
["LeFurgy, William G."]
["vienna"]